NATURE has a new home on the outskirts of Coventry thanks to generous donations left by local people in their wills.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating the opening of the new Bubbenhall Wood and Meadow nature reserve, off Leamington Road in Bubbenhall, after more than £130,000 worth of legacy donations was left to the charity in people’s wills and gifted in donations.
The ancient woodland, which dates back to the 1600s, measures around 45 hectares and will provide nature with a vital link between Wappenbury and Ryton woods.
Around 43 different birds, 19 species of butterfly and 27 different types of fungi will call the reserve home and avid horticulturalists will be able to spot hazel, holly, ivy, elder, bluebells, wood anemone, wood avens and honeysuckle as the seasons change.
Louise Barrack, communications officer at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are really excited to open Bubbenhall Wood and meadow.
“We have been putting aside the gifts people have left us in their wills for a number of years and were also lucky enough to get Heritage Lottery funding to enable us to purchase the site.
“Legacy donations are now being put towards our next venture, but we’d always encourage people to keep thinking about us when drawing up their wills.”
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust are running a series of free family events in the new nature reserve – a Fungi Foray on October 24, Ultimate Den Building on October 26, and Spooktacular Bubbenhall in time for Halloween on October 27.
Visit www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on to book your free tickets.
