Nature reserve sites are unveiled

12:54pm Tuesday 27th November 2007

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FIVE preferred sites for a multi-million scheme to create new nature reserves across Hyndburn have been announced.

The plan for the Coppice area in Accrington was the focus of the project when it was first announced last year.

But now it has been revealed that five other, smaller areas are also being looked at.

As we have already revealed, there are also proposals to invest £1million to transform an Accrington park into a 40-hectare wildlife park - which would be the largest in Lancashire.

Potential sites are:

• Star Delph Quarry/Harper's Clough, between Rishton and Great Harwood
• Woodnook Vale and Priestley Clough between Accrington and Baxenden
• Arden Hall, Plantation Lodges and Peel Park, Accrington
• Jackhouse Reservoir, Oswaldtwistle
• Brookside Reservoirs, Oswaldtwistle.

The scheme is led by Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT), Hyndburn Council and Lancashire County Council's Remade regeneration project.

Government guidelines state that a borough of Hyndburn's size should have at least 80 hectares of Local Nature Reserve (LNR). Foxhill Bank in Oswaldtwistle is Hyndburn's only LNR but is only nine hectares.

Now the plans have been put in place that could see the five other areas of parkland, recreation ground, reservoirs and paths designated as official LNRs.

A spokesman for LWT, said they were also trying to get the sites protected as important wildlife areas open to the public.

Public access and footpaths could be improved, there could be landscaping and tree planting as well as making them more habitable for wildlife.

As well as the five potential sites, council bosses may also in the future look at:

• Holt Street recreation ground, Rishton
• Whitebirk Marsh
• Round Wood in Memorial Park, Great Harwood
• Disused Martholme to Padiham railway line near Huncoat
• Canalside at Shaw Brook and Mill Wood, Rishton.