THE new Swifts nature reserve in Carlisle is a 'fabulous landscape for wildlife' according to city Cllr Nigel Christian.
The former golf course has been turned into one of the very first urban bee and butterfly oases in the North West, and it is hoped that the new nature reserve will provide a safe space for flora and fauna only 5 minutes from the city centre.
The nature reserve is only in its infancy and is part of a longer-term project to provide more green spaces and trees in the city.
Trees help to offset some of the carbon emission given out by cars and help to keep temperatures down in city centres.
"What seems untidy and uncared for at the moment, in terms of nature is actually being massively beneficial to local populations," said Cllr Nigel.
"We’re encouraging nature to take over here to help support our ecosystems."
The new space is hoped not only to be a place of sanctuary for local wildlife but also a place for people to relax.
"Covid really showed up the need for green spaces and people did realise that they do have to get out of the house and enjoy our green spaces.
"Its incredibly important for our welfare so it’s vital that we hang on to these kind of spaces for generations to come," said Cllr Christian.
The area has been transformed thanks to £80,000 funding from Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust (CWMET) and £8,000 from the Environment Agency.
The funding has turned the greens and fairways into wildflower meadows, species-rich wetland and native woodland, helping to boost populations of bees and butterflies.
"We’ve got so many rare populations in Cumbria and spaces like this help people to connect with them."
The project is also being run in conjunction with the ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing’ campaign which raises awareness that more than half of Cumbria’s pollinators have declined in the past 50 years.
"We need to actually think about what wildlife really need and quiet spaces like this are perfect."
The Swifts Nature Reserve is located behind the Sands car park and is now open to the public.
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