AS part of the redevelopment of the former brickworks in Cottam, the developers have finalised plans for a five-acre nature reserve.

Not often seen in property developments, the reserve is an important element of the £80 million regeneration scheme that will provide a managed habitat for a variety of wildlife and plants.

Ian Rankin, chairman of Cottam Hall Properties, the developer behind the project commented on the nature reserve. He said:

"Over the years we have been working closely with the Environmental Research & Advisory Partnership to devise a reserve that provides the community with an educational and recreational managed feature.

"The years have taken their toll on the derelict site invasive plants are taking over the open grassland and marshy areas meaning a large number of wildlife species and plants will eventually be shaded out and disappear.

Great Crested Newts that are on site will die out as their breeding ponds will fail. That is unless we ensure a well planned nature reserve is established and we very much intend to deliver such a project.

"In addition to giving lasting and managed protection to the wildlife of the site, the reserve will be adjacent to two local primary schools, Holy Family CPS and Ingol Primary School. It will provide local children with an excellent educational resource and a much needed teaching and research facility for universities and other establishments. We are even discussing the extension of the nature reserve in the school grounds.

"The added advantage of reserve is that it will provide important habitats to frogs, toads, newts, butterflies, dragonflies and orchids which will be managed and monitored so that the site retains its county wildlife value and its important species are given lasting protection."

The Cottam Hall Brickworks scheme is anticipated to generate over 700 jobs and is one of a new generation of schemes in the UK that answers ecological, transport, leisure, business, residential and retail issues in one major redevelopment.