Holme Dunes, Protected nature reserve in Holme next the Sea, United Kingdom.
Holme Dunes is a nature reserve covering roughly 230 hectares where The Wash estuary meets the North Sea coast. The site contains sandy beaches, salt marshes, pine forests, and grazing marshlands that provide varied habitats for wildlife.
During World War II the area served as a tank firing range before being converted into a protected nature reserve. The most notable discovery came in 1998 when a Bronze Age timber circle named Seahenge emerged from beneath the sand.
The reserve draws birdwatchers from around the world, serving as a critical waypoint for migratory species passing through Europe's coastal zones. Visitors come to witness the seasonal arrival of thousands of birds and find solitude among the salt marshes and dunes.
The main entrance provides a visitor center with information, permits, and facilities including toilets and a shop for supplies. Three observation hides are positioned throughout the reserve to provide different vantage points for wildlife watching.
The area experiences regular tidal flooding that constantly reshapes the landscape, creating new sandbars and removing old ones with each season. This continual transformation means the reserve never looks quite the same twice, revealing the powerful forces that shape this coastal environment.
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