Wildlife reserves near Oaksey are to receive £270,000 in landfill tax money thanks to a link between the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Hills Waste.

The Landfill Communities Fund grant will be spent at reserves at Clattinger Farm and Lower Moor Farm, which boast wildlife-rich lakes and streams as well as other habitats, including hedges and meadows.

More than £4.5 million has been handed over to the trust since the fund was introduced in 1996.

The scheme allows Hills boost its funding to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by diverting landfill tax to various projects.

The trust and the Hills Group were the first organisations in the country to work in partnership in this way.

Trust director Dr Gary Mantle was delighted to receive the money.

He said: “This grant from Hills will help us continue our crucial work to protect and enhance Wiltshire’s biodiversity and create the living landscapes that we need if there is to be a sustainable future for wildlife and people.”

Hills chief executive Mike Hill was pleased to be able to give something back to the community.

He said: “The trust’s work is vital in ensuring that wildlife habitats are created and protected for future generations to enjoy.

“As a company we care about the locations that give us our living and do our best to give something back.

“It is a strong principle of ours and one which has benefited all communities in Wiltshire.”

Lower Moor Farm’s Mallard Lake is one of only two lakes in Wiltshire to be designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, opened the reserve in May 2007.

Tell us what you think -

Share your views at gazetteandherald.co.uk