Snakeholme Pit

Snakeholme Pit is a small nature reserve near Bardney in Lincolnshire. It covers just two acres of grassland beside a disused clay pit. Butterfly Conservation owns and manages the site. The reserve lies close to the village of Langworth. Its flat terrain and damp soil suit a range of wildlife. The site is worth visiting for its rare and colourful insects. Volunteers from the Lincoln Conservation Group maintain the grassland carefully. They cut and graze the grass to keep it short and varied. This work helps butterflies and moths to thrive. Among the species recorded here are the common blue and the Essex skipper. Dragonflies such as the banded demoiselle also appear along the water’s edge. Visitors find a quiet meadow alive with movement and colour. The grassland is dotted with wildflowers that attract butterflies. Water voles and water shrews live in the ditches and pools. Emperor moths and elephant hawk-moths may be seen on warm days. Purple hairstreaks and rosy footmen flutter among the taller plants. The reserve offers a glimpse of Lincolnshire’s countryside in miniature.