Lottery-funded nature reserve opens

12:10pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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A NEW nature reserve has opened in Stourport with the aid of nearly £7,000 of lottery funding.

The 1.4 hectare site, at Moorhall Marsh, is 200 metres from Stourport town centre, next to the riverside meadows.

Improvements to the site’s access were funded by a grant obtained by Stourport Town Council from the lottery-funded BBC Breathing Places scheme, which aims to encourage the development of green spaces which benefit the local community and wildlife alike.

It is hoped designating the site as a local nature reserve will help to safeguard the wetland environment, retain and enhance the woodland and scrub habitat and preserve the reptile population.

There will be opportunities for the public to learn about the wildlife community and they will be encouraged to get involved in the management and upkeep of the site.

Conservative councillor, Marcus Hart, cabinet member for leisure services, explained: “A new boardwalk path has been created on the site to provide access to a wildlife discovery area.

“This will be great for people with little or no knowledge of the natural world to discover the importance of wetland wildlife in an easy to access environment.”

Paul Allen, conservation officer at Wyre Forest District Council, said: “The wetland nature of this piece of land originates from being a remnant of the once extensive River Severn floodplain marshland, which is now very scarce.

“The site is of significant biological value, being a habitat type identified in both the local and UK Biodiversity Action Plan.”

For more information on Local Nature Reserves, visit the council’s website at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk.