Council pledges cash for rewilding projects

Rewilding, where land is returned to a more natural state, has already taken place in Queen Elizabeth Park in Grantham

A council is offering to pay for rewilding projects, where land is returned to a more natural state.

South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) said its new biodiversity project, Make Space for Nature, would help "turn areas all shades of green through proactive rewilding".

The scheme, open to town and district councils, would fund all costs associated with projects.

Councillor Rhys Baker, SKDC's cabinet member for environment, said: “This initiative is not an attempt to return every patch of green space back to nature, but to enhance forgotten corners identified by local people."

Baker said projects would need to be "community-led" and "meet the needs of towns and villages".

He added: “We also emphasise balance. We realise that open spaces are excellent places for people to join together to instigate and grow a variety of grass, wildflower and tree species, and to use these areas as a focal point for community activities.

“Public spaces are important for dog walking, leisure, sport and other community activities. As such, our rewilding efforts are being carefully trialled to gauge public support and test practical impacts.”

Projects must fall within South Kesteven and land must be owned by the town or parish applying, or SKDC.

SKDC already has its own areas of rewilding, at Tattershall Drive in Market Deeping, Rutland Heights in Stamford, and at Queen Elizabeth Park in Grantham.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.