Three green spaces in Rushcliffe could be formally designated as Local Nature Reserves under proposals going before councillors next week.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve declarations for The Green Line in West Bridgford, Meadow Park in East Leake and Springdale Wood in East Bridgford at a meeting on Tuesday, June 23.
The designation would be made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and would formally recognise the sites for their natural interest, educational value and role as public green spaces.
The council report says the move would “regularise the established use” of the three sites as nature reserves, support the authority’s biodiversity duty and help meet an objective in the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy 2026–2030 to identify and designate new sites.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has already declared eight Local Nature Reserves in the borough. If Cabinet approves the recommendation, the three additional sites would be added to that list.
The Green Line in West Bridgford is part of a former railway line, with the section proposed for designation running from Melton Road to Boundary Road. The site has been used as a nature area and public open space since 1988 and is designated as a Local Wildlife Site by the Nottingham Biological and Geological Record Centre.
The land is owned by Rushcliffe Borough Council, with day-to-day management shared with the Green Line Conservation Group under a service level agreement.
Meadow Park in East Leake covers almost 18 hectares of former agricultural land which was given to the council in 1995 as a permanent leisure facility for local residents. It was designated as a Local Wildlife Site by the Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre on May 1, 2024.
The park remains under the control of the borough council, but its day-to-day management has been carried out by East Leake Parish Council and Friends of Meadow Park volunteers since 2009.
Springdale Wood in East Bridgford is a 1.41-hectare site created by The Woodland Trust in November 1999 on former arable land. It was one of 200 “Woods on Your Doorstep” sites across the UK.
East Bridgford Parish Council took a 999-year lease on the site in 2016, and day-to-day management has been provided by East Bridgford Wildlife and Biodiversity Community Interest Company since the same year.
Because Rushcliffe Borough Council does not own Springdale Wood, a management agreement has been agreed between the borough council, East Bridgford Parish Council as leaseholder, and The Woodland Trust as freeholder. The report says this agreement would allow the council to declare the site as a Local Nature Reserve.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis said: “It’s very positive Cabinet will discuss where we can again consider increasing and enhancing our biodiversity duty at sites across the Borough.
“They could create even more havens for wildlife and build on their current greenery with even more investment and protection and allow habitats in these locations to thrive further.
“If agreed, we look forward to working with existing groups associated with the sites to hear where we can work together for the benefit of all.”
Natural England has been consulted on the proposals and has supported the designation of all three sites.
For The Green Line and Meadow Park, Natural England said declaration as Local Nature Reserves would help ensure future management of the sites for the benefit of local communities, outdoor recreation, wildlife and green infrastructure connectivity.
For Springdale Wood, Natural England said it was “delighted” to support the declaration, adding that protecting the site and its habitats would allow it to continue to be used and valued by local people for recreation and enjoyment of the natural environment.
The report says there would be no direct financial implications from the designations, with management and oversight of the sites remaining unchanged.
If approved, ownership of the sites would also remain unchanged, but they would have to be managed as nature reserves. The council would also have the power to introduce byelaws to control use of the sites, although the report says this would only be used as a last resort if problems needed to be addressed.
Any future changes to the boundaries of the reserves would need Natural England’s approval. The report also states that Local Nature Reserves are statutory sites and, once designated, are protected from development by local planning policies.
Cabinet can decide not to make the declarations, in which case the three sites would continue to be managed as they are now but without statutory Local Nature Reserve status.
If councillors approve the recommendation, the council would formally declare the sites as Local Nature Reserves and send certified copies of the declarations, final site boundaries, management plans, public notices and completed factsheets to Natural England.