More than 1,050 football pitches' worth of land in Telford and Wrekin could be protected as council plans new nature reserves
Telford & Wrekin Council is preparing to designate two new nature reserve sites.
A report to be presented to the council's cabinet next week will encourage councillors to approve plans to declare two new local nature reserves (LNRs) and make changes to several existing sites.
If the plans are approved, 17 hectares of land in Newport and 26 hectares of land in Hadley and Leegomery will be brought under statutory protection.
The changes would bring the total number of local nature reserves in the borough to 27, covering an area larger than 1,050 Premier League football pitches.
The 17-hectare site in Newport would bring together several existing protected sites, including the Newport Canal, Strine Brook Park, Victoria Park, and parts of Norbroom Park.
Hurley Brook, a 26-hectare site in Hadley and Leegomery, would also be included, thus linking the existing nature reserves of Apley Woods and Dothill & Shawbirch through several public rights of way.
Councillors are also being asked to consider several changes to previously proposed nature reserves.
These changes would see Priorslee Flash made an LNR in its own right, after plans in 2022 proposed the site be part of a larger LNR also including Redhill and Snedshill in St Georges.
Redhill Ecology Park and Snedshill & Albion Hill could each become individual LNRs under the latest plans.
Other changes include making Holmer Lake an extension to the existing Stirchley Dingle and Madebrook Pools LNR, and making Kemberton Meadows an individual site.
The council's cabinet will consider the changes during its cabinet meeting on Thursday, February 12.
