Consideration being given to creating the longest Local Nature Reserve in the West Midlands

Walsall Council’s Labour/Liberal Democrat Cabinet will be considering a report in July on work which has been progressing between Walsall MBC and the City of Wolverhampton Council, Canal and River Trust and Natural England to designate a new Local Nature Reserve (LNR) covering the Wyrley & Essington Canal and adjoining open space in Walsall and Wolverhampton.

If approved this LNR would become one of the longest in the West Midlands and the first along a navigable length of canal.

The Wyrley and Essington Canal runs from Brownhills to Wolverhampton, is approximately 27km in length and runs adjacent to some of our other LNRs, namely Pelsall North Common and Rough Wood & Bentley Haye, and forms an important wildlife corridor and recreation route through the Borough.

A draft Management Plan for the LNR has been prepared for consultation and can be viewed here: http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/wyrley_and_essington_draft_management_plan_2017_ver2_6.pdf

A LNR is a publicly accessible site which is locally important for wildlife, education and enjoyment. LNRs are typically owned and managed by the local Council. This LNR will be unique as the majority is owned and managed by the Canal and River Trust, with areas of adjoining land owned and managed by Walsall Council and City of Wolverhampton Council. Such areas of land in Walsall Borough include Clayhanger Common, Clayhanger Community Woodland, land off Slacky Lane and Green Lane open space.

Cabinet approval will be sort to declare the Walsall section of the LNR in July. Following this, a formal declaration statement and other information will be sent to Natural England and a Collaboration Agreement will be made between the three partners, including a commitment to jointly manage the LNR for wildlife, education and enjoyment purposes for at least 21 years. A notice will also be published in the local press and an official opening event is provisionally planned for September.