WHISBY NATURE PARK
Lincoln, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln LN6 9BW

Former sand and gravel pits have been filled and turned into mesotrophic lakes, surrounded by wet willow scrub and now form part of Whisby Nature Park. The nature reserve was established in 1985. The park opened in 1989 on either side of the Nottingham to Lincoln railway line. It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2002.

The park has breeds of Shetland cattle and is home to a variety of bird species including wigeon, teal, tufted duck, pochard and goldeneye, great crested grebes, mallard and kingfisher, which can be observed from several bird hides. Whisby holds a substantial population of nightingales, which have become synonymous with the reserve. The park is also home to the Hazel Pot Beetle, a leaf beetle of the Cryptocephalinae subfamily; it was released into the park in November 2000. Plants include Dactylorhiza praetermissa, Trifolium arvense and a bicolour form of Cytisus scoparius.