Marlborough Bay Meadow nature reserve opens to public

The nature reserve is on the outskirts of Marlborough

A new nature reserve has been opened to the public.

Owned by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (WWT), Bay Meadow sits within the North Wessex Downs, on the outskirts of Marlborough.

The 30-acre site of restored water meadows, was officially opened on 1 November.

WWT chief executive officer Joanna Lewis said the reserve would be "a place for local people to come to relax, unwind and connect with nature".

It is hoped the work to restore the reserve will attract more wildlife

Ms Lewis added: "We need nature in our lives, for our health and happiness and for the resilience of our farming systems and the stability of our climate.

"In saving Bay Meadows, and working together to create a new nature reserve and a new community nature park, we have stood up for nature and for people," she added.

The site, which has the River Og, a chalk stream, running through it, and more than 300 different species of wildlife, was bought by WWT last year to protect it from potential development.

It was funded through donations from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Hills Group, Dyson, Fish in Need, Marlborough Area Board and Marlborough Town Council.

The reserve was officially opened to the public on 1 November

WWT hopes its work at the site, which is one of more than 40 reserves it owns in the county, will attract more wildlife.

As part of community engagement work, organisations, schools and clubs took part in restoration work such as building dens and bird boxes.

The reserve also includes space to deliver activities for WWT's Marlborough Wellbeing Programme, a scheme set-up to connect people with nature.