A NEW nature reserve opened in Presteigne earlier this month, as locals band together to help tackle the climate change crisis.

The stunning Coed Llanandras opened on Saturday, June 3, the culmination of a collaborative effort to enhance biodiversity and link habitats within the town.

Presteigne and Norton Town Council is making efforts to address the climate emergency with local initiatives, to create diverse habitats which will increase biodiversity locally, lock up carbon and increase the resilience of the local environment to climate change.

They have worked in partnership with Presteigne Tree Group to deliver the new community woodland nature reserve project which has been funded by the Welsh Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

County Times: The stunning new Coed Llanandras nature reserve in Presteigne. Pic Catherine Connors Illustration The stunning new Coed Llanandras nature reserve in Presteigne. Pic Catherine Connors Illustration (Image: Catherine Connors Illustration)

The project has created a new woodland nature reserve in Presteigne, increasing tree connectivity and introducing diverse habitats to support nature including ponds, meadowland and scrub, in addition to native woodland.

“The hope was to engage the community in helping to prevent biodiversity loss and be active in nature's recovery,” said the town council in a statement.

“We hope it will become part of the National Forest for Wales. It has increased connectivity between existing woodlands and we now have a mosaic of diverse habitats – woodland, hedge and scrub, pond and wetland and flower-rich meadow.

“Much of the project has been created by volunteers, with well over 1,000 volunteers hours put into it so far. Local contractors have installed the path, ponds and entrance gate, the gate was designed by a local illustrator and the metal panels were laser cut by a company in Newtown and the frame fabricated in Knighton.

“We have been delighted with the number of people who have been keen to help and we have been very lucky to have fantastically knowledgeable members of the community who have been vital in helping to plan and manage the project.

“There is now a gate linking the reserve to the primary school, who have been brilliant at getting the children involved at every stage.

“We hope the project has been successful in raising awareness of biodiversity and its importance among the community, as well as creating a new place for nature on the edge of the town that will be protected for generations to come.

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“The open day was well attended with lots of new faces coming to see the reserve and find out more about what's been going on. It was a great opportunity for everyone who has worked so hard over the last six months, since the town council took ownership of the land and the works could begin, to explain what had been done and what we hope it will achieve.

“Nigel Hand who created the ponds said lots of people had talked to him about making wildlife ponds in their own gardens.”

Presteigne’s mayor and county councillor, Beverley Baynham, said: “The new nature reserve is a fantastic demonstration of people coming together and making things happen.

“The project has seen a collaboration from the town council and volunteers within the community who have helped with various tasks, including the children from Presteigne Primary School planting trees.

“It really has been and will continue to be a community project that will grow and evolve over the coming seasons. Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way.”