Booking required to visit seals at Donna Nook

During the seal pupping season, Donna Nook receives over 60,000 visitors. On a single day, visitor numbers can exceed 5,000.

With such high numbers of visitors on site, social distancing would be impossible to be maintain.

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has been working hard to come up with a solution that keeps visitors, volunteers and staff safe, while also still allowing the site to open to visitors.

This means limiting the number present on site at any one time through an online booking system. Visitor numbers have been limited to 600 per day, and tickets will be available for four specified time slots, which still allow plenty of time to enjoy viewing the seal colony.

Tickets are available via the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website at www.lincstrust.org.uk for £10 per car on Saturdays and Sundays, and £7.50 per car on weekdays.

Unfortunately, if you don’t have a booked ticket, even if you are visiting on foot, you will be turned away.

Paul Learoyd, the chief executive at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We understand how much people enjoy and look forward to visiting Donna Nook. For many, it’s a yearly tradition! I’m pleased this new system will still allow visitors to come and see this wildlife spectacle.

“Like many organisations, we’ve been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Limiting numbers and managing the new system will be expensive for the trust meaning the operation comes at a cost to the charity.

“Our wardens and our volunteers look after the seal colony 365 days a year.

“We know that many people will not be able to visit this year but if you can, please consider making a donation so we can continue to protect this gem on the Lincolnshire coast for wildlife and for all to enjoy.”

A visit to the seal colony will now include following a one-way system. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust requests that all visitors maintain a safe distance from each other and keep two metres apart.

Visit the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website for full details about visiting and the visitor guidelines.