d. intentionally removing or displacing any tree, shrub, plant, fungus or part thereof, or other vegetation, whether living or dead, or any  unfashioned mineral thing including water;

e. intentionally bringing, or permitting to be brought, into the Reserve any living creature, or the egg of any living creature, or any plant,  or any seed or any other part of any plant, in such circumstances that it is likely that such creature or plant will reproduce or propagate  itself, or such egg will hatch, or such seed will germinate;

f. driving, riding, propelling or leaving any mechanically propelled vehicle (including hovercraft) elsewhere than on a highway or a road,  or in a place indicated by a notice as being available for the purpose, or landing any aircraft except in case of emergency;

g. bringing into, or permitting to remain within the Reserve; (i) any dog unless it is kept on a lead or at heel and is prevented from  worrying or disturbing any animal or bird, or (ii) any other animal;

h. erecting, occupying or otherwise using any tent, shed or other structure or any vehicle or towed vehicle for the purpose of camping or  overnight occupation;

i. lighting any fire, stove, heater or other appliance capable of causing a fire;

j. committing any act which pollutes or is likely to cause pollution of any water;

k. intentionally or recklessly removing or displacing, or negligently defacing, damaging or destroying any notice board, notice exhibited    by order of the Council, apparatus, wall, boundary, bank, fence, barrier, railing, post or hide;

l. being in possession of a firearm with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm or discharging a firearm or lighting a firework;

m. projecting any missile manually or by artificial means;

n. erecting or using a camera mounted on a stand or concealing structure for the purpose of photographing or observing any wild animal or bird, or any apparatus for the transmission, reception, reproduction or amplification of sound, speech or images by electrical or mechanical means, except apparatus designed and used as an aid to defective hearing and apparatus used in a vehicle so as not to produce sound audible by a person outside the vehicle;

o. intentionally obstructing any officer of the Council or any person, or the servant of any person, employed or authorised by Council in the execution of any works including research or scientific work connected with the laying out, maintenance or management of the Reserve;

p. digging, collection and/or removal of bait of any description by hand or mechanical means;

q. between 1 April (or Good Friday if earlier) and 31 October inclusive

1. launching a boat into any part of the Reserve other than the watersports area;
2. carrying a boat across any part of the foreshore not within the watersports area;
3. taking a boat launched into the watersports area from that area into another part of the Reserve;
4. taking from the Reserve to the shore adjacent to the Reserve a boat which has entered any part of the Reserve beyond the watersports area;
5. other than within the watersports area, or when taking necessary emergency action, using a boat at a waterspeed exceeding 5 knots   ‘watersports area’ means the area shown hatched on the plan forming part of these Byelaws

qq. between 1 November and 31 March (or Good Friday if earlier) inclusive

1. launching a boat into any part of the Reserve
2. carrying a boat across any part of the foreshore
3. taking a boat from the Reserve to the shore adjacent to the Reserve
4. other than when taking necessary emergency action, using a boat at a water speed exceeding 5 knots

            In sub paragraphs (q) and (qq) ‘boat’ means any vessel including a sailboard or personal watercraft

      r. intentionally leaving items in a place other than a receptacle provided for deposit of litter or refuse.

The Lindisfarne NNR byelaws were passed in 1999. Over the last two decades there have been several social changes which have increased levels of recreational and commercial activities. For example, since 2000 the number of pet dogs in the UK has grown from 6.5million to 9million in 2020. North-east England has the highest proportion of dog ownership in the UK (36% of households have a dog compared to 23% nationally). There have been year on year increases in general visitors, alongside increased development of self-catering holiday accommodation and housing developments along the Northumberland coast.

This makes it timely for existing byelaws to be reviewed. WADER is working with a network of local stakeholders including Northumberland National Landscape, the Harbour Authorities, the Environment Agency and many more to review and update existing byelaws and Codes of Conduct.

Key issues are as follows:

Dogs

The existing byelaw on Lindisfarne NNR requires dog owners to have their dogs on a short lead or at heel. There have been issues with on-going dog disturbance at shore bird breeding, feeding and roosting sites and disturbance to grey seal haul-out sites, with owners not in full control of their dogs. It is proposed that the requirement for dogs ’at heel’ will be removed and be replaced with a requirement for dogs to be on a short lead of no more than 1.5 metres. Issues around the use of Lindisfarne NNR by commercial dog walkers will also be addressed. There will be an examination of the practicalities of identifying some parts of Lindisfarne where there will be a dog ban.

Drones/low flying aircraft

Drones and aircraft are a major disturbance issue for all wildlife, but especially migratory birds. Restrictions are being explored – including on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or low-flying aircraft below 460m (except in emergencies).

Water sports

Water sport activity is restricted through a byelaw around much of Lindisfarne NNR but one of the access points into the water sport zone is very close to a recently developed spit which is now part of the Lindisfarne shore bird breeding programme. WADER will work with and learn from LIFE Recreational REMEDIES to help address the impacts of water sport activities in freshwater and marine areas (particularly damage to seagrass areas).

WADER is working with the Reserve team on a new proposed watersports byelaw, to apply annually between 1 April (or Good Friday if earlier) and 15 September, whereby the following will be prohibited:

• launching a boat into any part of the Reserve other than the watersports area;
• carrying a boat across any part of the foreshore not within the watersports area;
• taking a boat launched into the watersports area from that area into another part of the Reserve;
• taking from the Reserve to the shore adjacent to the Reserve a boat which has entered any part of the Reserve beyond the watersports area;
• other than within the watersports are, or when taking necessary emergency action, using a boat at a water speed exceeding 5 knots;

Between 16 September and 31 March (or Good Friday if earlier) inclusive, a proposal is pending to prohibit:

• launching a boat into any part of the Reserve
• carrying a boat across any part of the foreshore
• taking a boat from the Reserve to the shore adjacent to the Reserve
• other than when taking necessary emergency action, using a boat at a water speed exceeding 5 knots

‘watersports area’ shown below; ‘boat’ means any vessel including a sailboard, surf board, jet ski or any other type of l watercraft.

To deliver positive behaviour and reduce impacts to sensitive areas of seabed, additional voluntary measures will be trialled. These will be developed using a bottom-up approach, initiated by community members to help secure broad community support. Codes will be supported with printed information/materials and/or signage depending on local demand/circumstances.