A new nature reserve for Erewash will officially begin taking shape within days.
The funding to transform 25 acres of land at Pewit Coronation Meadows Local Nature Reserve on the edge of Ilkeston into a wildlife haven is coming from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and section 106 money from the New Stanton Park Development.
Butterfly and bee banks will be among the first things to be created as a network of paths are installed to improve access across the site.
The new natural haven is expected to take two to three years to create. It will boast wildflower meadows, orchards, footpaths, benches and picnic tables.
Almost nine in ten residents who responded to a survey backed turning the site, a former golf course, into a nature reserve. It will link to the wider Nutbrook Trail plus the beauty spots of Straws Bridge, Manor Floods and Pewit Carr.
Natural England and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have welcomed the project. Councillor Mark Alfrey, who is also Erewash Borough Council Lead Member for Environment, said: “When the golf course had to close, the [borough] council was keen to see the site continue as a community asset.
“Thanks to the [borough] council, securing vital government investment, we are now getting a new nature reserve at Pewit. We are thrilled to announce the launch of Pewit Coronation Meadows Nature Reserve, a project that embodies the principles of rewilding by providing a haven for biodiversity. The transformation of 25 acres of land combines conservation, ecology, and community engagement to restore natural habitats and promote ecological connectivity.”
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