beauty spot revamp bid

A forgotten Stourport marshland is to be transformed into a beauty spot expected to attract thousands of visitors each year as part of ambitious new plans.

The Severn Meadows, at Moor Hall Lane, has been earmarked for the dramatic makeover as part of a national scheme, which is called Breathing Spaces.

Around £7,000 has already been allocated to the scheme with the Big Lottery Fund providing the majority of the cash to Stourport-on-Severn Council.

The scheme is spearheaded by BBC's Autumnwatch and Springwatch programmes, presented by Bill Oddie. And if successful the Severn Meadows project could feature on TV later in the year.

Work will start this summer to create a boardwalk to allow the public to take walks over the marshland.

A herd of cows will be brought into the marshland to trample down and graze on the overgrown grass.

Once the cows have done their work the natural flora for the marshland is expected to return.

The cows have been used successfully in places like Puxton Marshes, Spennells and Burlish Top to manage the land. New fencing and gates will be installed on the site and visitors will be encouraged to use the facilities. And the council hopes to secure nature reserve status for the land when it is opened to the public in the summer of 2008.

Community development manager for the district council, Lesley Fox, said: "It is all very exciting for Stourport at the moment.

"The nature reserve is another piece in the jigsaw for the town's transformation into a popular tourist attraction.

"We are trying to open the land up to the public and this funding will help us to give the land a new lease of life.

"The cows will encourage natural flora and fauna to grow and return the marsh land back to its original state and create natural habitats for wildlife."

By Sol Buckner