A GROUNDBREAKING deal is being struck to secure the future of five Worcester nature reserves by the city council.

An agreement is on the verge of being reached to allow the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust to take over the maintenance of five key beauty spots in a money-saving offer.

The move comes after the council cut back on its wildlife rangers.

The reserves included in the package are:

  1. Offerton Lane
  2. Warndon Wood
  3. New Plantation
  4. Tolladine Wood
  5. Perry Wood
     

The city council says it will retain ownership of each site and will still be "the first point of contact" for the public on them, but the trust will look after each one under agreed maintenance plans.

In September last year the council decided to reduce the number of wildlife rangers it employs from three to two as much of the work is volunteer-led.

The council owns 18 nature reserves in the city covering 300 acres and one of them, Lusty Glaze near the Ketch caravan park in St Peter's, is already maintained by the trust.

A deal to add another five was endorsed by the Conservative cabinet last night, which says the arrangement will be win-win for the public.

Both parties will finalise detailed maintenance plans for each site, and meet at least four times a year to make sure it is going ok.

A report on it says the council will hand over a lump sum payment of £1,200 per year, with the trust covering its own staffing and volunteer costs.

Between now and the spring the trust will consider if it wants to take over maintenance for any of the other council sites, and if not the authority says it will offer their management "to the open market" under similar deals.

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said: "Our aim is to maintain and enhance what's available to the public and make some savings at the same time.

"Some of these sites are absolute gems."

Róisín Hanks, project manager for the trust, said: "We already work closely in partnership with the council and have done for quite a while.

"We've got paid staff but we try and involve volunteers as much as possible and will work towards a maintenance plan for all the sites."