You are in > manchester.com  > News > Beauty spot awarded special status

Root101.com

Beauty spot awarded special status

20/11/2008

A wildlife spot near Didsbury could soon be awarded special status after councillors gave plans the green light.

Stenner Woods and Millgate Fields could soon be registered as a nature reserve with Natural England which recognises its importance to plants and animals.

Once it is recorded with this body, the wetland will become the seventh area in Manchester to be protected.

The other six consist of Chorlton Water Park, Blackley Forest, Clayton Vale, Chorlton Ees and Ivy Green, Highfield Country Park and Boggart Hole Clough.

Councillors chose the 50 hectare area for its importance as a breeding ground for birds, frogs, toads and newts.

It is also believed to contain 100 year old hedgerows.

After a stretch producing rhubarbs, Millgate Fields was a landfill site before it was transformed into grasslands, surrounded by hedgerows and willow coppice woodland.

Manchester city councillor Richard Cowell said: "Back in 1997, we had just one local nature reserve in the city, now we've got seven, so this is very good news for Manchester."