Work is set to get under way on a new wildlife haven for birds, bees and butterflies.

The Swifts golf course and driving range in Carlisle city centre is set to become the first urban bee and butterfly oasis in the North West.

Situated in a 17-hectare site in the centre of Carlisle, which includes grassland, woodland and riverbanks, will be transformed into an urban nature reserve thanks to £80,000 funding from Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust, (CWMET) and £8,000 from the Environment Agency.

The funding will breathe new life into the site, transforming once manicured greens and fairways into wildflower meadows, species-rich wetland and native woodland, helping to boost populations of bees and butterflies. The site is owned by Carlisle City Council, which will be working collaboratively with Cumbria Wildlife Trust to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

With improved access and signage, and within close walking distance of Carlisle city centre, the site aims to be an oasis for wildlife and people alike.

The restoration works will fall under the ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing Project.’ This project, which is supported by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to create and link pollinator habitat across northwest Cumbria.

Nigel Christian, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “Pollinating insects are a critical component of a healthy ecosystem, however, more than half of UK bee, butterfly and moth species have declined in the past 50 years and 30 species of bee face extinction.

"Over the past 75 years, 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost, whilst 60% of flowering plants are in decline.

"The first stage of work at the Swifts is to carry out the process of ‘thinning’ the existing stands of trees. These are mostly non-native, quick growing, species planted in lines when the site was in use as a golf course, but they are of very limited value to pollinators and also cause dense shading, preventing the growth of native woodland floor plant species.

"Removing approximately one third of the trees across the entire area (a total of approximately 65) will break up the distinct lines of planting and allow light to the woodland floor, enabling the growth of a wider range of seasonal vegetation. The City Council will follow this work up with additional planting schemes in the autumn of 2021."