New habitats planned at open spaces across town

Parndon Lock Meadow is one of the green spaces identified for the scheme by Harlow Council

Six open spaces have been identified as locations where a variety of new habitats could be created across a town.

The provisionally designated sites in Harlow, Essex, include Parndon Lock Meadow and Parndon Moat Marsh.

While details of the project are unknown, Harlow Council said green spaces would be redesigned to encourage wildlife to flourish.

Alastair Gunn, the local authority's cabinet member for garden town and planning, said it was "all about reversing the decline in our natural environment".

It came as part of Harlow's submissions to the Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy, for which a consultation period is under way.

If the scheme was confirmed, experts would analyse the sites and see if there were opportunities to use money ring-fenced for habitat investment and improvements.

The six open spaces nominated by Harlow Council were:

• Harlow Woods SSSI, LNR and surrounding buffer

• Parndon Lock Meadow and Parndon Moat Marsh

• The River Stort gap, between the A414 Fifth Avenue bridge

• Jean McAlpine and Canons Brook Country Park

• Church End Pond and Netteswell Pond Conservation Area

• Latton Common and Harlow Common

Gunn said it was vital that local authorities worked to better protect the natural environment.

"Harlow is blessed with abundant green spaces, from our town park to our green fingers and wedges," he added.

"If protected, these can allow nature to thrive within our town."