PLANS have been drawn up to create more nature reserves in Pendle.

The council, in partnership with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, has funded the appointment of a temporary local nature reserve co-ordinator, Andrew Laycock, who will oversee the management of four of Pendle's nature reserves.

The reserves are in Alkincoates Park's woodland, Colne, the Lomeshaye Marshes, Nelson, Quarry Hill, Nelson, and the Greenfield, Colne.

Currently, the only designated local nature reserve in Pendle is Upper Ballgrove, Ball Grove Park, Colne.

Designating an area as local nature reserve opens access to new funding to pay for improvements and maintenance.

Tom Partridge, Pendle council's countryside access officer, said: "There are a number of sites in Pendle which are much enjoyed by walkers and naturalists for their wildlife. The appointment of Andrew Laycock will help to co-ordinate the efforts of the council and community groups to look after the sites.

"We hope, with this additional support, the sites may all be declared as local nature reserves so they can be developed and protected for years to come.

"One of the Government's criteria for assessing the quality of life is access to green space - something that the council and Lancashire Wildlife Trust is keen to increase."

The Government recommends there should be one hectare of land designated as a nature reserve for every 1,000 people. In Pendle, there is currently only one hectare for 22,250 people.

Emma Cosgrif, productive landscapes officer for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: "A local nature reserve is very beneficial to the local community. It gives people a place to relax, walk the dog, play sport and to be with, and increase knowledge and understanding of, nature.

"We are getting local primary schools involved, with workshops about nature and they have found it very educational.

"Very shortly, Andrew will be contacting all relevant organisations involved with the sites to move the initiative forward. I hope that we may make some progress in the next 12 months with some if not all of the sites."