Little Pen Wood Local Nature Reserve Consultation

Protection and enhancement of the environment is one of our key priorities and one way we can deliver on this is by the declaration of Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) in some of the parks and open spaces in the borough.

LNRs are for people and wildlife, they:

• are places with wildlife or geological features that are of special interest locally
• offer people special opportunities to study or learn about nature or simply to enjoy it
• are actively managed to care for the natural features which make the site special

Having reviewed a number of potential sites within the borough, we believe that Little Pen Wood is worthy of being considered as an LNR due to its semi-natural ancient woodland with special wildlife and wetland habitats and its importance to the local community.

View the proposed LNR boundary for Local Pen Wood

What happens if declared

If Little Pen Wood is declared as an LNR it would be given protection as a statutory nature reserve, recognising its nature conservation value and the continuing efforts to enhance its wildlife. Local people would still be able to use the site as they do at present. Recreational use of the site for activities such as dog walking, running and cycling will remain as before with the same retained access to the whole of the site.

Further local involvement with the site would be encouraged through volunteering in the site’s management and by encouraging the use of the site as an educational resource.