A PROGRAMME of works is set to begin on a nature reserve after Lancashire Wildlife Trust secured the funds it needs to make improvements.

A significant portion of the funding comes from Peel Ports Group, which owns the port of Liverpool, and allows the reserve to access further funding from the Veolia Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, which will go towards bird hide improvements and facilities aimed at making Seaforth Nature Reserve more accessible to wheelchair users and families with prams.

The Trust hopes that this will make the reserve more accessible and and enable visitors to get close to and learn about threatened bird species.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve officer Michael Cunningham said: "Seaforth Nature Reserve is an incredible asset for our region supporting a vast range of threatened bird species.

He added: "This programme of habitat and accessibility improvement works delivers a vital boost to threatened species and enhances a valuable community resource for connecting with nature.

"We are delighted to be working with Peel Ports, Natural England, Veolia Environmental Trust and the RSPB to deliver this important project."

The nature reserve is an important special protection area and a major roosting site for a wide variety of waders, seabirds, ducks, and small birds.

Due for completion by the end of 2021, the programme of works totalling £34,000 will be designed and contracted by the Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and Natural England and aims to help to create new areas of breeding habitat for several species of birds that the reserve supports.

Two of the species, the Common Tern and the Ringed Plover are considered by bodies like the RSPB to be of particular importance to the region's ecosystem.

The trust also aims to install water control options which it says will benefit all of the various waterbird species on the reserve, as well as seating areas for visitors.