SHROPSHIRE may soon be home to a ‘super national reserve’.

Natural England has invited Ludlow locals, as well as people from around the county, to share their views on ideas for a new large-scale national nature reserve on the Welsh border.

Residents, landowners and anyone with an interest can attend a public drop-in session taking place between 6 pm and 9 pm on February 7 at the village hall in Snailbeach.

The proposal is to extend the existing Stiperstones national nature reserve, by joining up with landowners and partners to increase its size by up to 5,000 hectares.

The reserve will be one of the King’s series of national nature reserves which were launched last year to celebrate the coronation. 

The plans will see the creation of five major reserves every year for the next five years, in the hope of leaving a lasting public legacy for people and nature.

Emma Johnson, Deputy Director for Natural England in the West Midlands said:  “There’s a great opportunity here in Shropshire to create better and bigger places for nature, that people can enjoy too.

“A ‘super’ national nature reserve joining up land with partners would be so beneficial, for example soaking up huge amounts of carbon and helping to reduce flooding downstream.

“Everyone is invited to find out more at the drop-in session where they will be able to talk to people from Natural England and some of the partner organisations involved.  There’ll be lots of information about the proposal, we really want to hear what people think.”