Lings Environmental Centre
Lings Environmental Centre provides a variety of educational and community-based services to help people of all ages enjoy the outdoors and learn about wildlife. The Centre is situated in Lings Local Nature Reserve, a magnificent, urban woodland covering over 22 hectares in the Eastern District of Northampton. It also has areas of grassland, scrub and wetland including a pond with dipping platforms. Many local people regularly use the area for informal recreation and general enjoyment. The reserve also houses the Wildlife Trusts Northamptonshire office at Lings House.
The Wildlife Trust opened the Lings Environmental Centre, a purpose-built extension to Lings House, in 2000. Experienced staff lead a range of activities for all ages, enabling people to enjoy the various habitats on site and understand the needs of local wildlife.
The name ‘Lings’ dates back to the 16th century when it was common land of grass, heather - also known as ‘ling’ - gorse and birch. By the beginning of the 20th century the area was mixed deciduous woodland, some of which was replaced by conifers in the 1940s. Now surrounded by residential areas, Lings Nature Reserve forms a valuable haven for wildlife in the borough and a centre for the Trust’s activities in Northamptonshire.
The site is owned by Northampton Borough Council and part managed by the Wildlife Trust. The future management of the reserve is likely to include the felling of certain areas to allow replanting of suitable tree and shrub species, improvement of ponds and pathways and the regular cutting of grassland areas so it continues to be a valuable area for both wildlife and people.
Please click here to Get in touch with the centre manager or follow the quicklinks for how to Get involved and Educational opportunities.
For a comprehensive guide to all programme charges, please see our Education and Community services pricing policy 2008-09.
News
Update on Lings Local Nature Reserve 29 May 2007
What on earth is going on?
A make-over for Lings Local Nature Reserve 31 October 2006
Events are planned in response to community's wildlife wishes
Really Wild summer at Lings 7 September 2006
Local children go on safari at their local nature reserve
MP turns up the heat at Lings 6 September 2006
With a discussion about energy efficiency and climate change