Lagoon among 500 hectares to be restored

Brownsea Island Lagoon is among more than 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of meadows and wetlands in Dorset that are set to be restored.

Dorset Wildlife Trust said its Making Space for Nature project aimed to "improve and protect" wildlife at a range of sites, also including a new nature reserve at Lyscombe and meadows at Kingcombe National Nature Reserve.

It is one of 20 conservation projects across the UK that will receive a share of £25m from the government's Species Survival Fund.

Andrew Pollard, from Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “It will help form new nature recovery networks through the county.”

Mr Pollard added: “Our vision for this project is to create thriving biodiversity hubs which will increase the abundance of wildlife species.

“Nearly 400 hectares of this land has little or no wildlife interest currently and so when it is restored, it will help form new nature recovery networks through the county.”

He added the cash would help to "protect the 3,000 species of wildlife in Dorset which have been identified as threatened, rare or protected".

Four new full-time jobs will be createdas part of the project, as well as two traineeship opportunities, the trust said.

The government's Species Survival Fund aims to restore meadows, wetlands and orchards, and create wood pasture, grasslands and ponds, across 3,300 hectares (8,150 acres) of critical habitats for wildlife in the UK.

It also aims to support species under threat of extinction.

The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “This fund will be a key plank in achieving our legally-binding targets to halt species loss and protect 30% land for nature by 2030.”

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