Nature gets reserved for future generations

Two of Plymouth’s woodlands are to get extra legal protection to preserve them and keep them for future generations to enjoy.

Ham Woods and Radford Woods are to be designated Local Nature Reserves, meaning over 75 new hectares – that’s 75 football pitches of woodland –  will be protected from development and ensure the city’s growth is sustainable.

Almost a hectare of land at Military Road is also being added to the existing Efford Marsh Local Nature Reserve, with an old traveller site last used 40 years ago being returned to nature.

Councillor Brian Vincent, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “We value green spaces enormously here in Plymouth – 40 per cent of our land mass is green, which is incredible. But to keep the balance of city growth, we need to look after them and protect them.

“These designated nature reserves woodlands are not just about nature – they are very much about encouraging people to enjoy them and we have seen massive increase in interest from local communities getting involved in their local reserves and wood land in some way.

“These are our city’s green lungs and they need to be looked after for everyone – as well as our wildlife.”

Ham Woods covers over 35 hectares and its habitats include woodland, scrub, neutral grasslands, an orchard and a stream. Radford Woods covers 39 hectares and includes semi-natural ancient woodland, woodland plantation, grassland, an orchard, old quarries, still and running water.

Plymouth now has 10 Local Nature Reserves, covering an area of 255 hectares. The latest designations helped the Council achieve its Core Strategy and Green Space strategy targets of designating 100ha of Local Nature Reserve by 2016.

Over the last few years ‘friends’ groups have been actively involved in  managing local woodlands as well as running  events for the local community and schools.

The Friends of Radford Woods, for instance, received the ‘It’s your Neighbourhood’ award from the Royal Horticultural Society, in recognition of their work. They helped to install a boardwalk and decking to improve access; restored granite benches, planted a community orchard as well as planted endangered species. For more information visit www.radfordwoods.co.uk

The Friends of Ham Woods are also winners – last year they won an award for creativity and innovation as part of the Natural England ‘Access to Nature’ project. The friends planted a community orchard with local and native species. They regularly hold events including wild food foraging, bat walks and a dawn chorus walk

In 2012, renowned artist Peter Randall-Page installed a unique stone seating sculpture entitled ‘In Praise of Trees’ in Ham Woods www.hamwoods.org.uk

For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/naturereserves