Treasure seekers Mick and Sue Blackburn from Market Rasen won gold bullion worth around £9,000 as a top prize.
they beat over 100 people hunting for treasure across East Lincolnshire – including Louth, Skidbrooke, Burgh le Marsh and Theddlethorpe in a competition to promote Lincolnshire's Grazing Marshes.
Mick said: "It was just a bit on fun. I think we are both still in shock. I have no idea what we will do with the gold as we didn't think that we would win it so didn't think about that. We have already put it in the bank, but apart from that we don't know yet."
The treasure hunt was thought up by Project Officer Joe Blissett as a novel way of encouraging people to learn about and explore local wildlife and history by solving clues based around myths, mysteries, folklore and the rich cultural heritage of the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes which stretch from Grimsby to Gibraltar Point.
He explained: "Lincolnshire's Coastal Grazing Marshes helped bring prosperity and global links to this little known corner of England, in fact East Lindsey has an awful lot of history behind the landscape we see today and one which is also incredibly important to wildlife throughout the seasons. Without an understanding of what we've got, we're in danger of losing it forever through changes in farming and an increasing population. The prospect of winning the gold bullion has helped us to promote the area's extraordinary history and wonderful natural environment to residents and visitors alike."
The marshes were reclaimed by man thousands of years ago for salt making and then grazing of livestock – forging links with Europe through trade on an industrial stage, once the most significant area in the country. With a solid gold bar as the prize, excited participants explored churches, museums, nature reserves and visitor attractions in search of clues.
The innovative project gained celebrity attention, with support from Harry Potter and Star Wars actor Warwick Davies who said: "Lincolnshire has many small towns and communities that are a pleasure to visit. I have family in Louth, so I travel to that part of the world often. The Riddle of the Marshes is a great way for people to discover the treasures of Lincolnshire and maybe even come away with some actual treasure."
The project also put the county back on the global stage, with packs being sold to people from across Europe as well as Canada, USA and Thailand, helping to raise the profile of the landscape's fascinating history, dialect and wildlife, thereby helping to protect the threatened rural landscape.
From November 3 the 'Riddle' pack will be available to download for free from the Project's website www.lincsmarshes.org.uk and o a great way to explore this fascinating corner of England all year round.
