Project summary:
A grant was awarded to Sedfield Borough Council to support the employment of a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) to lead a project which will enable the declaration of a further five Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). The LNRs will provide green space for those in areas of socio-economic deprivation and lack access to other green space in Sedgefield, typically those residents of old mining settlements.

The project will seek to involve new groups and individuals and the CLO will encourage local community participation in the development of LNR management plans and their implementation. Local interest will be facilitated through local consultation events and volunteer working days, by the production of interpretative material, holding presentations and by making full use of the media to raise the project’s profile. The CLO will establish ‘friends’ groups to include local residents, landowners, local authorities and English Nature to steer LNR development work. In particular, children and teenagers will be targeted to participate in site activities to reduce anti-social use of the LNRs. The project will contribute to delivery of the County Durham Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

The proposed LNRs are in the ownership of Sedgefield Borough Council, Great Aycliffe Town Council, Spennymoor Town Council and Shildon Millennium Green Trust. All organisations will form a partnership together with the CLO.