There's a wonderful world of wildlife right on your doorstep just waiting to be discovered.
A good place to start would be the protected lands of Local Nature Reserves and Parks. They are already well geared up for visitors with designated footpaths, cycle ways and bridle paths in abundance. Within all the hustle and bustle of a busy market town and surrounding villages, visitors can still retreat for some peace and quiet. Local Nature Reserves (LNR) are protected open green spaces set aside for wildlife.
Mansfield has nine Local Nature Reserves, seven of which were designated during the Natural Connections project; a partnership between the Council and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT). The two organisations have been working in partnership to create more LNRs and manage them sensitively to enhance the local environment for local people and visitors alike.
One of the main aims of this project is to provide opportunities for local people to become involved and to work in partnership with the Council in the future management of these sites, working towards the reserves long-term protection. Local people can contribute by joining one of the local “Friends of” groups who organise various events to raise funds for management projects and to promote the reserve and its wildlife.
Local Nature Reserves help to:
- encourage biodiversity
- preserve and protect nature and wildlife
- provide essential green corridors
- create pleasant areas to visit
- create opportunities to learn about nature and natural history.
They are open for everyone to enjoy and have special habitats, such as woodland, heathland, wetland and grassland. Local Nature Reserves are home to a variety of wildlife including bats, birds and insects.