Council strengthens its commitment to protecting and enhancing nature across the Borough

Telford & Wrekin Council has reinforced its commitment to protecting and enhancing local natural habitats, after its Cabinet approved the designation of new and expanded Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) across the Borough at its meeting today.

The proposals will see the number of Local Nature Reserves across the Borough increase to 27 sites over the next two years, covering 748 hectares of protected natural space. This equates to approximately 4.04 hectares (the equivalent of five and a half football pitches) of LNR per 1,000 residents—more than four times the minimum recommended standard for accessible natural green space.

This expansion forms part of the Council’s ongoing programme to protect, care for and invest in the Borough’s green spaces. As of December 2025, more than 1,000 hectares of locally important natural spaces have been protected, including over 300 Green Guarantee sites and existing LNRs. These protections ensure that valuable natural spaces are safeguarded from development and remain accessible for both people and wildlife.

The proposals include plans to declare two new LNRs, situated in central Newport and Hurley Brook, which together will represent 43.7 hectares of newly protected land. The plans also include boundary changes to other proposed LNRs to recognise their distinct habitats, creating five additional sites at Priorslee Flash, Redhill Ecology Park, Snedshill & Albion Hill, Holmer Lake & Madebrook Pools, and Kemberton Meadows.

These sites support a rich mix of habitats including woodlands, grasslands, ponds, canal corridors and scrub, and are vital for strengthening local ecological networks, supporting biodiversity, and helping communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

At Newport, the proposed LNR brings together a range of important habitats, including the Newport Canal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). While the canal already benefits from the highest level of statutory protection for its nationally significant ecological value, the surrounding land deserves high levels of protection. By designating these neighbouring areas as an LNR, the Council will be able to care for a larger, connected landscape, enabling better habitat management, improved public access and enhanced opportunities to support biodiversity beyond the boundaries of the SSSI itself.

The proposed 26.7 ha Hurley Brook LNR in the Hadley and Leegomery Ward is a long stretch of woodland and grassland that follows the course of the brook and is strongly supported by an active Friends of Hurley Brook group. This dedicated volunteer team not only promotes the site within the local community but also carries out regular water‑quality monitoring, species and habitat surveys, and contributes to the Telford Green Spaces Partnership. Designating Hurley Brook as a Local Nature Reserve will secure long‑term protection for its habitats, support continued biodiversity improvements, and ensure that this much‑loved green space is conserved for nature and future generations to enjoy.

In total, this will mean there are currently 20 designated LNRs in Telford and Wrekin, with a further seven proposed for future designation once consultation with Natural England and other necessary legal mechanisms have been completed.

Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability, said: “Our Local Nature Reserves here in the Borough play a crucial role in helping people connect with nature, and over the course of a year it is estimated that the existing LNRs receive around 4.12 million visits, with around a quarter of those being people visiting for the first time.

“These proposed new declarations will expand this even further, reinforcing the Council’s commitment to protecting nature, enhancing biodiversity, and ensuring that every resident has access to high-quality green space close to home.”

Alongside supporting the proposed expansion to the local LNR network, the Council’s Cabinet also reaffirmed its commitment to the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan (SHNLMP), in partnership with Shropshire Council and other stakeholders.

Councillor Healy added: “This support for this management plan reaffirms Telford & Wrekin Council’s commitment to the partnership, recognising and valuing the benefits of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape here in the Borough, and working together to conserve and enhance its natural beauty.

“Areas of the National Landscape within Telford and Wrekin host important habitats and link the wider local countryside, acting as a gateway to our green networks which run through the Borough, so it is vital that this important landscape continues to be protected.”