A FARMER has said he wants to turn a part of his land into a nature reserve for the people of Wellington to enjoy.

Paul Coles, of Trinity Farm in Rockwell Green, speaking to members of Wellington Town Council’s environment and heritage committee on March 13, said: “We would like to create a local nature reserve for the community.

“It’s exciting for us as a farming family to get involved in this. We live in a built-up area, but I would like to see it become a green area.”

Mr Coles, of KF Coles Ltd, said he wanted the local community to get involved in the project and to encourage children to enjoy nature from a young age.

He told councillors it could become an extension of the town council’s Green Corridor initiative – a 64-acre area of land stretching from Tonedale to Hilly Head and includes The Basins nature reserve.

“This will stay a nature reserve forever and ever and it will be for the benefit of the town and local community rather than for development,” he said.

But Mr Coles said there would be issues to sort out including the actual ownership of the nature reserve.

Councillors gave the idea a positive response and a big thumbs-up.

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Catherine Govier, said: “This will be great – it will be good to get the community involved. It is an exciting opportunity.”

Committee chairman, Cllr Mike McGuffie, said: “This is a great idea.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow added: “This is fantastic.”