Land Purchase To Create New Country Park

A new publicly-accessible open space and country park is to be created near Market Harborough.

Harborough District Council has spent just under £1.8m purchasing over 130 acres of land for the ambitious re-wilding project.

The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust will lead the scheme either side of the A6 bypass near Great Bowden.

It will restore the nature-depleted land – an area the size of 79 football pitches – re-establishing natural processes and building a network of nature sites where wildlife can thrive.

Ben Devine is head of nature recovery at the Wildlife Trust:

Aerial video of the site by Ian Drummond 

As well as protecting the site from long-term housing development, the project will help the council meet its carbon reduction and nature recovery ambitions and provide more opportunities for residents to improve their health and wellbeing by connecting with nature-rich greenspace.

It is hoped the area will eventually feature footpaths, car parking and visitor facilities, including refreshments and toilets.

The move by the district council is the first of its kind in Leicestershire and is being seen as of national significance.

Cllr Phil Knowles, leader of the council, spoke to HFM:

AI image of how the site could look

South Leicestershire contains some of the most heavily modified and nature-depleted areas in lowland England.

The project will drive the recovery of nature on this land so that it can support an abundance of wildlife that enriches the immediate area and enables wildlife to spread out to surrounding countryside and communities.

The land purchase could also facilitate a new waste depot which the council has been seeking.

Cllr Darren Woodiwiss, cabinet lead for climate change and environment, is delighted the project will take place: