A total of 22 new nature reserve areas covering around 627 acres are set to be created in Glasgow.
Areas including Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Govan, Castlemilk, Firhill and Petershill are in line to see the extra 254 hectares of green space if council plans get the go-ahead.
As part of a bid to boost biodiversity, brand new wildlife havens for people to visit would be created in a number of different neighbourhoods.
There are currently 12 nature reserves in the city and under the new plans some of them are set to get bigger. They currently cover land measuring 522 hectares.
Councillor Anna Richardson, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: “We are very lucky in Glasgow to have a city with such a diverse range of parks and open spaces. The mix of peatlands, wetlands, forestry and other habitats is possibly unique for an urban environment and it is something that should be celebrated.
“Bringing more open spaces into the local nature reserve system will help us to focus on how to make the most of Glasgow’s natural world. Ensuring open spaces in deprived areas are as accessible and biodiverse as possible is a priority but we are also looking to support and protect the habitats of the city’s wildlife as much as we can.”
Details of the nature reserve bid will be presented to the environment, sustainability and carbon reduction policy committee next week.
If approved, it would mean over one hectare of land per 1000 people in the city managed “to support diversity and enjoyment of nature”, according to the council.
Councillor Richardson added: “There will be significant engagement with all relevant stakeholders as we move forward so we can refine these plans and improve the management of the spaces identified for possible local nature reserve designation.
“The city’s biodiversity is under threat from the ecological emergency that we all face and extending our network of local nature reserves can help to protect and preserve Glasgow’s flora and fauna.”
Councillors are due to decide whether to refer the local nature reserve proposal to the city administration committee for approval.
New nature reserves or extensions to existing reserves will be put in place at:
- Bingham’s Pond
- Bishop’s Loch
- Blairtummock
- Cadder
- Cardowan Moss
- Castlemilk
- Cathkin Brae’
- Claypits
- Cleddan’s Burn
- Commonhead Moss
- Cranhill Park
- Croftfoot Park
- Crookston Wood
- Dawsholm Park
- Early Braes
- Festival Park
- Garscadden Burn
- Househill Park
- Hurlethill
- Malls Mire
- Red Road
- Todd’s Well
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