THOUSANDS of pounds is being ploughed into Bury's nature reserves to help the borough blossom.

The Greening Greater Manchester (GGM) scheme, funded by Biffaward, is granting more than £27,000 to be used to enhance the area's wildlife while improving access and the environment.

More than £8,000 has been allocated to the Chesham Local Nature Reserve to resurface bridleways, repair dry stone walls and replace broken steps while creating 60 metres of new footpaths.

It is hoped the improvements will stop illegal motorbiking on the site while providing better access for the local community and visitors to the area.

The Bury Community Countryside project will also receive more than £8,000 to develop seven community countryside projects across the borough providing woodland management training to local people.

The seven sites are Mount Pleasant in Nangreaves, Kirklees Trail in Tottington, Simister Wetland in Simister, Starmount Lodge and Close Park in Radcliffe, and Goshen Woods and Jericho Claypit in Bury.

Clough Community Woodland in Prestwich is another beneficiary of the grant with £9,000 allocated to conserve the heritage of the site, enhance the woodland wildlife and tackle pollution problems to the brook that runs through Prestwich Clough, Bury New Road and Buckley Lane.

Ian MacArthur, regional director for Groundwork North West, said: "Our local environment is hugely important to our quality of life but many of our neighbourhoods are blighted by neglected spaces that attract anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.

"GGM projects show just what can be achieved when communities are able to transform these areas into assets for everyone."

Martin Bettington, chairman of Biffaward added: "Greening Greater Manchester has supported some excellent projects that are meeting the needs of local people and improving the environment. These projects have taken a partnership approach, striving to involve the community at all levels and contributing to the creation of more vibrant and healthy communities."