NATURE lovers hoping to safeguard the future of five picturesque stretches of water around Bury have scored an early success.

The Friends of Cockey Moor and Whitehead Lodges have obtained a blanket tree protection order on woodland around the lower Whitehead lodge near Starling.

The order prevents any would-be developers from chopping down trees to make way for future building work.

Conservationists fear that the Whitehead Lodges straddling Starling and Ainsworth, and the Parker's Lodges in Elton Vale could be drained by future owners to pave the way for development.

The reservoirs and surrounding land are being sold as part of a £1.5 million land package by current owners the IPT group.

After representations by the group about the trees, the council has served notice about their protection to residents in the surrounding area.

Chairman of the "Friends", Mrs Elaine Shirt described the protection order as an early boost. She said: "We're getting in first with this. With tree cover it is less likely that anybody is going to build, at least around this lodge.

"It is quite an important step forward in protecting the area."

The news comes ahead of a report on the site's wildlife being presented by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit. This could allow the lodges and surrounding land to be designated as a protected Site of Biological Importance.

At their first meeting on Wednesday night, committee members of the Friends discussed their overall aims and objectives.

The group agreed to raise public awareness, protect the lodges' landscape, wildlife and recreational value and establish a sustainable future strategy for them.

A vote was also taken to incorporate the "Parker's Lodges" into the name of the group.

The group will now seek charitable status to make them eligible for new sources of funding to manage the site.

Bury Council has said it is "carefully considering" the long term future of the area and intends to carry out a thorough review.

Executive member for environmental issues Councillor Julie Higson said: "As the local planning authority, we would like to see the future of both Parker's and Whitehead Lodges secured for the long term as water bodies providing both recreational and amenity benefit to the people of Bury.

"We are currently engaged with all parties, including local residents, angling tenants, the lodge owners and their agents, and our own advisors at the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit to find positive solution which will secure the long term environmental quality of these areas."

The next public meeting about the lodges, at Bolton Road Sports Club, takes place on November 1, at 7.30pm.