The Lindholme Hall Estate is a 120 acre site made up of grassland, heathland and woodland, which includes ancient oak and scots pine believed to originate from colonies dating back to the ice age. The island is very beautiful, inspiring and peaceful, with a medieval character.
The Lindholme island is in the centre of the Hatfield Moor National Nature Reserve a 3,500 acre site which is part of the larger Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve. On the international scale, the moor habitat is as rare as the Amazonian rain forest and considered a very precious part of our national heritage. Currently, the Humberhead Peatlands, previously milled for garden peat, is the largest reclamation project in Europe. The story of the ´fight for the moors´ is, according to David Bellamy, “a story of the real guts of conservation” See ´Thorne Moors´ by Fay Godwin. The Sumach Press.
The Lindholme estate and the surrounding National Nature Reserve is home to a number of rare and endangered species of mammal, bird and invertebrate. Most of the nature reserve has protected status both in Britain and Europe, including ´European Special Area of Conservation´ and ´Site of Special Scientific Interest´. It is owned by Natural England and the whole area is protected from development.
The Lindholme estate, previously an island in the middle of the peat lands, is made up of a glacial moraine deposited at the end of the last ice age. On Lindholme Island two geological sections have been exposed, which provide rare evidence of the limits of the last glaciation in Eastern England. It is anticipated that the sections will be the basis for further discreet scientific research.
There is archaeological evidence of human presence on Lindholme Island dating back thousands of years. During our early months here, in spring 2010, Dr. Buckland, who was carrying out some research on the land, found a knapped flint which has been dated at approximately 16,000 years old. In addition a local amateur historian, Mr Oliver, discovered a 5,000 year old wooden track way to the north of the island, one of only four such track ways have been found in Europe.
There is evidence to suggest Lindholme Island was the location of a chapel in ancient times. Records also indicate that in the 15th century the island was used as a hermitage.
The beauty, seclusion and vastness of the land and the scope of the buildings make Lindholme Hall a perfect place for practice and study of the Buddha Dharma for now and many future generations. As Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche said of Lindholme Island “It is not possible to find a place superior to this” and "Many will achieve realisation here."
For information about the the Nature Reserve visit www.naturalengland.org.uk or The Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum www.thmcf.org
Gomde, Lindholme Hall is an exceptionally special place Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche said he would like everyone, wherever they are, to feel included in this project and to rejoice with us all; everyone should help and become involved in whatever way they can. With people´s good wishes, and practical help Gomde, Lindholme Hall will manifest all its beauty and potential for the benefit of all beings.
After much form filling and many meetings and lots of work, much of the Lindholme Hall estate land was accepted into Higher Level Stewardship in April 2011.The scheme is designed to protect the mosaic of the countryside and pays landowners to manage land in ways which enhance diversity and protect landscapes of importance and significance. The scheme gives us acess to important information and advice and has helped us establish a land management scheme that will protect and enhance the landscape and also the species which find refuge here.
The funds received will help pay for capital items such as fencing and also much needed machinery. However, as such schemes are generally granted to farmer/ landowners the assumption is that manpower, skills and machinery are ´on hand´. We still have some way to go but are learning fast!
Anyone with skill in land management and or working on the land is most welcome to help in whichever way they can.
Please contact national@gomde.org.uk or call 01302 842 503
