Nature reserve to be 'transformed' with £100k boost

The grant will go towards "habitat enhancements" at the nature reserve

A nature reserve is set to be "transformed" with improvement works which can go ahead due to a £100,000 grant, a wildlife charity says.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said the funding would be used to increase biodiversity, improve climate resilience and promote sustainable farming practices at Lower Moor Farm nature reserve.

The two year project, which is due to begin in July, will also include an assessment to try and prevent future flooding.

The trust said the improvements would "provide crucial habitat for species under pressure including invertebrates, birds, reptiles and amphibians".

The project will focus on enhancing grazed pastureland at the reserve.

Sam Stork, director for countryside and land management at the trust, said the work would protect habitats while "maintaining productive grazing land for our farming enterprise".

"This project embodies our vision of helping nature to recover by looking inwards at our own land and ensuring we're maximising wildlife benefits across all areas," he added.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust received the funding from local community energy enterprise, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy (WWCE).

The grant was the largest amount ever awarded by the enterprise to a single organisation.

Julian Barlow, chair of WWCE, said the organisation was looking forward to seeing the project get underway.

"We believe in the power of community-led action to restore nature and tackle the climate crisis, and this project represents an exciting opportunity to encourage a proliferation of species across our landscapes.

"We're thrilled to play a part in making that happen," he added.