Ref.: thisisbristol.co.uk
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayN ... K=13201990
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WILDLIFE HAVEN PLAN IS AT RISK
11:00 - 17 September 2005
The future of a potential nature reserve in Midsomer Norton is in jeopardy unless more funding can be found to complete an environmental project. Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust (SDHRT) was given a small piece of woodland 18 months ago as part of the lease for the station site in Midsomer Norton.
A meadow next to Somervale School was then added on to make the land into a potential site for a Local Nature Reserve.
But the Wildspaces team, which is overseeing the project, will run out of National Lottery funding in January, putting the plan to get the site designated a Local Nature Reserve at risk.
Councillor Shirley Steel, Conservative member for Midsomer Norton North, originally came up with the idea and pursued it in her role as a Somervale School governor and a board member of the SDHRT.
She said: "It would be terrible if all the hard work by the local community turned out to be for nothing when funding runs out in January."
The funding for the Wildspaces Project is provided by the National Lottery Fund and held by the B &NES Planning Services Department.