Scunthorpe does not arrive with theatrical fanfare. It sits on the north Lincolnshire ridge, between Lincoln, Grimsby and Doncaster, with the Humber Bridge and Hull not too far over the water. It is the largest town in North Lincolnshire, home to a little over 81,000 people, and it quietly carries the weight of being both…

Ashby Ville Nature Reserve sits just off Mortal Ash Hill on the southern edge of Scunthorpe. It looks, at first glance, like a simple lake with some scrubby banks and a few dog walkers. In other words, it hides its best features quite well. Under the surface, both literal and metaphorical, it is one of…