Lincolnshire summer fun to celebrate King's England Coast Path
Day packed full of free events for coastal community on national trail due to stretch around the coast of England
The outstanding Lincolnshire coastline, part of what will be a 2,700-mile long national trail around England.
A day of summer activities is being held at Chapel St Leonards on the Lincolnshire coast this June to celebrate the King Charles III England Coast Path.
The event, being hosted by Natural England and partners, will take place at the North Sea Observatory in Chapel St Leonards, Skegness, on 17 June from 10am to 4pm.
Suitable for people of all ages and abilities, the day will include a variety of free activities ranging from arts and craft, mindfulness, trike riding and live music. There will also be guided walks along the coast, readings by expert storytellers and a chance to find out more about the coast’s wildlife including occasional sightings of grey seals.
Neil Constable, a programme manager for Natural England, said:
We’re delighted to be hosting this event to celebrate our wonderful section of the King Charles III England Coast Path here in Lincolnshire. It’s a fantastic opportunity to come and find out more about the path and its rich local environment. So whether you’re a seasoned walker or new to the coast path and would like to find out more, we’re very much looking forward to welcoming you.
A free event at the North Sea Observatory in Chapel St Leonards on 17 June will open up a range of activities for people of all ages.
The stretch of the England Coast Path at Chapel St Leonards increased access to the magnificent Lincolnshire coastline with a 16-mile route from Skegness to Mablethorpe when it opened in 2019.
Encompassing the tourist hotspot of Skegness, wild sand dunes and the world’s first official cloud-spotting area, Lincolnshire’s first open stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path enables people to explore the trail and the diverse wildlife that can be found along the line of the route.
The route takes into account the area’s important coastal habitats, including the seascapes and unique habitats of Anderby Marsh, Chapel Pit and Wolla Bank Reedbed. Walkers can enjoy the adjacent sand dunes, clay pits and beaches, where a range of bird species, such as the bearded tit and reed bunting thrive.
Flocks of knot, sanderling and dunlin may be spotted patrolling the edge of the waves, and visitors may see oystercatchers. Grey seals, one of the rarest seals in the world, can be spotted bobbing in the water and the small natterjack toad can be heard croaking on a summer evening. In spring, areas are awash with purples and pinks as the unique flowers of the sands bloom including sea lavender, sea aster and thrift.
Users can also enjoy views of the Chapel Point to Wolla Bank Site of Scientific Special Interest (SSSI) at very low tides which shows evidence of sea level changes over the past 11,000 years.
There is also access to the world’s first official cloud spotting area at the Anderby Creek Cloud Bar.
Opening access to the coast is part of the Government’s ambition to connect people with nature, and is key to achieving the aspirations of the Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan.
When completed, the new national trail will stretch all the way around the coast of England and will be about 2,700 miles long. It will take people through some of the finest landscapes in England, linking iconic places and heritage on the coast with less well-known areas and unlocking access to some parts of our coast for the first time.
The King Charles III England Coast Path will connect people with nature, enabling all to access the natural environment and experience the health and wellbeing benefits that it can bring.
For more information about the event and how to get there, visit Englandcoastpath.org
A full list of activities taking place on the day can be seen below:
- Unleash your creativity with Art on the Beach bookable workshops
- Ride the fabulous Cycling Without Age trike
- See the films made by Dynamic Dunescapes and local communities
- Immerse yourself in the exciting creations from UK New Artists
- Show how you care for beach and sea, learn about litter’s impact on wildlife
- Unwind with easy, gentle mindfulness walks
- Dive into the OceanDome – learn about the magical world of life underwater
- Move, dance and feel alive with our Silent disco
- Explore our ‘Pathways for choice’ exhibition at the North Sea Observatory’s very own art gallery
- Meet our puppets and learn about the environments in which they live
- Learn about local sea life with Lincolnshire wildlife trust and try your hand at sea-dipping
- Come and play CLAWS, our new video game, and learn about Natural England’s marine conservation work
- Discover the unique Beach of Dreams pennants by Kinetika on the beach
- Walk a section of the path, between Skegness and Chapel St Leonards with Bro Pro
- Relax in the book corner, ask expert bookworms to help you read your way around the coast
- Listen to lively local music from Table 14 Band, Sam Harrison and The Rambling Yellowbellies
- Find out how to protect Lincolnshire coast’s spectacular coastline and local wildlife with Operation Seabird
- Plot new adventures along the coast path and beyond with Go Jauntly and Countryside for All
- Immerse yourself in tales with Keith, the storyteller