Pendle News Room

Councillors at the Policy and Resources meeting on 25 August agreed to a change of use of the land, which is owned by Pendle Borough Council, from agricultural to Local Nature Reserve.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, said:

“Local Nature Reserves are for people and for wildlife and offer our community the chance to learn about nature or simply to enjoy it.  

“The next step is for the Council to work in partnership to develop a declaration document and management plan and submit it to Natural England,” he explained.

Councillors at the Policy and Resources meeting also agreed that the Gib Hill Working Group will take on the management of the Local Nature Reserve once it is designated.

This group includes local councillors, representatives from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Pendle campaigning group Hillside Heroes, other Local Nature Reserve Friends’ Groups and Nelson and Colne Town Councils.
 
 Councillor Ash Sutcliffe on Gib Hill
Councillor Ash Sutcliffe who chairs the Gib Hill Working Group said:

“Gib Hill is highly valued by local people and has meadows which are of Biological Heritage Status which means they are of great importance to wildlife.   

“It totally fits the bill to become a Local Nature Reserve,” he stated.
John Lamb, Senior Conservation Officer of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, who has done three detailed ecological surveys of the site, said:

“This is a fantastic step forward!  

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has had a long interest in Gib Hill as it has species-rich meadows, which have declined by over 95% since WWII and are now scarce in the UK.

“Along with its ancient hedgerows, Gib Hill is a refuge for rare and threatened plants and animals,” explained John.

“Being designated as a Local Nature Reserve will give it national recognition as a place that people can go to see and enjoy wildlife,” he added.

The Council’s Green Spaces Team and Landscape Maintenance Team will be involved in making improvements on Gib Hill and a new bridge has already been installed, with help from local volunteers.

Anyone who’d like to volunteer some of their time for projects on Gib Hill, or in other green spaces in Pendle, should email:  parks@pendle.gov.uk