PLANS for a new wildlife corridor in Lutterworth are being drawn up by Harborough District Council (HDC).
The council plans to link Lutterworth Country Park to Bittesby Country Park with a publicly accessible wildlife corridor along the former railway line, extending northwards into central Leicestershire.
HDC is hoping to collaborate with surrounding landowners and businesses on the project, and is working on a number of working groups, public meetings, and a volunteers event to bring the idea to fruition.
It is part of the council’s Rewilding Harborough programme to restore nature-depleted areas to key sites across the district.
An HDC spokesperson said: “We aim to restore and reconnect habitats at scale across the district, creating a resilient and healthy environment, accessible for people, teeming with nature and rich with opportunities for learning, health and wellbeing.”
The programme is also looking at major rewilding projects to the north of Market Harborough extending from the River Welland to the Grand Union Canal, and at land surrounding Tin House Farm in Great Bowden.
Other potential sites have been identified in a number of areas of the district which will continue to be explored, and other locations will also be supported where sites are put forward.
Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “The Rewilding Harborough programme presents an amazing opportunity to restore nature in our district on a nationally important scale.
“The strategic partnership will rewild large swathes of nature-depleted countryside, protecting it as public open space for generations to come and bringing nature back to the district
“I think it is wonderful news for our district and local communities that we will be looking to expand our focus on nature recovery across other areas of our large district in time.”
