Local beauty spot becomes local nature reserve

Published: Wed 17th July, 2024

Booth Wood in Loughborough has been designated as a local nature reserve to help support and encourage more wildlife at the site.

Charnwood Borough Council manages the 10-acre woodland to the west of the town.

The site has been confirmed as a local nature reserve after the borough council applied to Natural England.

Cllr Anne Gray, the Council’s lead member for open spaces said: “It is fantastic that Booth Wood is now a local nature reserve.

“The site offers a beautiful and accessible route to the west of Loughborough and is popular with school pupils and the local community. As a local nature reserve, not only will it offer some protection for future generations but will also help wildlife and plant species flourish.

“I would like to thank our open spaces partner idverde who worked with us to create a management plan for the site and supported our application.”

The borough council applied for the old woodland to become a local nature reserve to allow more plant and animal species to flourish, similar to other nature reserves in the area.

Booth Wood is dominated by oak, with ash and conifer trees. During the spring months, the site is home to native bluebells.

As part of the process of becoming a local nature reserve, a five-year management plan was produced to outline how the area will be looked after in the future.

The plan includes ways to improve access to the wood and encourage more species to populate the area.

Local people and visitors to Booth Wood were consulted on the management plan before the application was submitted to Natural England.

Booth Wood joins Stonebow Washlands and Bishops Meadow in Loughborough and Morley Quarry in Shepshed as protected areas for wildlife to flourish and visitors to enjoy.

For more information about the Council’s parks and open spaces, please visit our webpage.