AN area one time deemed fit for only industrial use is now a haven for wildlife and home to around 130 species of plants and flowers.

A campaign rescued Lomeshaye Marsh at Nelson from the bulldozers in 1994.

And since then a team of volunteers has been working hard to improve access to the site for the public while ensuring the area's important biological heritage is kept safe.

The scheme won an award in last year's Lancashire Evening Telegraph Grimewatch competition and is again a contender in this year's awards.

New developments in the last year include the preparation of a patch covered in nettles and thistles, which will be transformed into a wildflower meadow.

So-called 'dead hedges' have been created from branches and brushwood to form wildlife habitats.

And progress has been made on the network of paths which will lead people through the site. Project officer Judy Yacoub said: "The aim is to provide a comprehensive footpath network for visitors, including those who rely on wheelchairs or have pushchairs."

The marsh, one of only two wetlands along Pendle Water, is a biological heritage site and the paths will help protect the more sensitive areas from being ruined.

Funding for the project has come from a number of sources, including European Union money and Lancashire and Pendle Councils.

Plans for the future include having the site designated as a local nature reserve, a visitor centre and interpretative panels.

Any kind of environmental project is eligible for the Grimewatch awards - but there are only a few weeks left in which to enter.

Contact Grimewatch co-ordinator Jennie Kernot on 01254 264317 or 678678 ext 244, or Grimewatch reporter Valerie Cowan on 01254 678678 ext 350 for details and an entry form.

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