Wildlife refuge plans unveiled

Ambitious plans to create a wildlife refuge in Pinchbeck have been revealed.

Land owned by the parish council which is adjacent to Pinchbeck Wood could be transformed to provide a public area in ‘woodland poor’ South Holland.

Proposals to extend the woods by more than three hectares also include a wildlife pond and meandering footpath.

The idea “supports HM’s Platinum Jubilee tree-planting initiative ‘The Queen’s Green Canopy’ says a draft outline which has been recently presented to the parish council.

The entire project would offer greater privacy and security with planted screening and a ‘no-go zone’ between public areas and homes.

Residents and parish councillors Sam Jeffery and Audrey Gregor outlined the idea to the council, which owns the land, and they will return in March with more details.

The pair want to ‘create a new nature reserve and greatly improve this popular wood for the whole community.’

Their proposal said that the district was ‘poor in outdoor recreational spaces and footpaths’ and added there were health benefits to creating public open spaces.

The land is currently rented out for agricultural use and Sam and Audrey are asking the parish council to support their plans and turn it over for a nature reserve.

The council also owns the adjoining woodland.

According to their plan, the project would “improve the conservation status of locally and nationally scarce and threatened species, including bats, water voles, water shrews, grass snakes, newts and otters.”

There would be improved car parking at both entrances with grass areas reinforced with protection grids.