Man donates land for nature reserve in son's memory

James Adler died in 2023 from a rare syndrome affecting connective tissues

A man has donated a plot of land to create a nature reserve in a Leicestershire village in memory of his son who died aged 42.

Michael Adler lost his son James in May last year as a result of a rare syndrome affecting connective tissues.

Wanting to create a legacy for his son, Mr Adler has gifted a plot in Great Bowden measuring nearly 50 acres to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in Great Bowden.

The trust plans to transform the site into a "truly special reserve bursting with wildlife and rich in biodiversity".

Mr Adler said he intended to leave the land to his son, who loved the outdoors and was chief executive of Ashdown Forest in East Sussex.

"Emotionally I was extremely attached to the land," he said.

"For much of my early childhood I had lived with my grandparents in Great Bowden and had the free run over acres of land.

"James joined me on visits to the land on several occasions and was the obvious person to take over.

"He would have loved to have been responsible for the land at Great Bowden and it is most appropriate that the new reserve is to be named after him."

The plot of land includes a mixture of trees, scrub and grasslands

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust said it was working with its local Great Bowden Group to develop future plans for the site.

The land, which includes a mixture of trees and scrub, is split in two by the A6 to the east of Great Bowden.

Mat Carter, chief executive at the trust, said: "We are extremely grateful to Michael Adler.

"The land is of immense importance as it not only allows us to work with local businesses and local community groups in an area where we previously had few nature reserves, it also brings us one step closer to our 2030 strategy of Bringing Nature Back by restoring nature in our two counties."

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