Donna Nook

Donna Nook is a coastal area which is the site of an RAF bombing range. Thanks to its unpopulated location it's also home to a colony of grey seals. Fortunately the seals are undisturbed by the planes when they fly overhead.

The location is just a few miles north of North Somercotes. Most visitors arrive by car, since it is not well served by public transport and the roads are relatively narrow.

Donna Nook is managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. They have seal wardens who patrol the area, and they have installed signposts and information points. Most importantly, however, there is a fence to separate the seals from human contact. This is vital, because they are wild animals and can bite.

There are some things to keep in mind if you want to watch the seals.

• Dogs are not allowed on the beach
• Do not cross the fence, since that disturbs the seals
• The seals need to conserve energy, so do not try to encourage them to move
• RAF Donna Nook is in use as a bombing range, so obey all warning signs

The best months to visit are November and December, when the seals come ashore to give birth. Provided people remain behind the fence, the seals are undisturbed by the presence of humans and can be seen quite close up. Good quality binoculars, or a camera with a good zoom, will help you get the best view of them. However, you may find that you don't even need that much equipment.