New nature reserves designated in Telford to mark World Wildlife Day
Telford & Wrekin Council has announced the legal designation of two new Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and the extension of a third, securing long-term protection for the borough’s wild spaces.
The announcement, made to coincide with World Wildlife Day on 3 March, saw Priorslee Flash and Heath Hill & Pool Hill in Great Dawley officially designated as LNRs. Additionally, the existing Madebrook site has been extended to include Holmer Lake.
These changes bring the total number of Local Nature Reserves in the borough to 22, covering more than 670 hectares—an area equivalent to almost 940 Premier League football pitches.
Priorslee Flash is a 33-hectare reserve shaped by former industrial activity. Its pit mounds have evolved into a mosaic of woodland, scrub, and grassland surrounding a large waterbody. The site is a haven for protected bat species, waterfowl, hedgehogs, and badgers.
Heath Hill & Pool Hill covers almost 15 hectares across two connected sites. It offers a varied landscape of heathlands, ponds, and young woodland. This area supports a range of wildlife, including grass snakes, slow worms, and smooth newts, with walking routes linking Great Dawley to Horsehay and Lawley.
The extension of the Stirchley Dingle and Madebrook Pools site now provides statutory legal protection to Holmer Lake. This area is already well-maintained by the Friends of Holmer Lake and Madebrook group and serves as a vital corridor for aquatic life and foraging bats.
Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability, said:
“Protecting space for nature is a key priority for the Council, and these new Local Nature Reserves will help strengthen the network of wild places that wildlife depends on across our Borough. By joining up habitats and creating more connected wildlife corridors, we’re giving species the room they need to move, feed and thrive.”
She added that while Natural England recommends one hectare of LNR per 1,000 residents, Telford and Wrekin provides more than four times that amount.
Richard Shaw, from the Friends of Holmer Lake and Madebrook Group, welcomed the news:
“We’re delighted to see Holmer Lake and the wider Madebrook area receive this extra level of protection. Local people have been caring for these spaces for years, and this designation recognises just how important they are for wildlife and for our community.”
The council has indicated that a further five sites are proposed for future declaration, adding to the 300 existing Green Guarantee sites across the borough.
