Ref. 25857-06The first Local Nature Reserve in the Cotswold Water Park has officially been declared open - and already work is being planned to open it up to the public.

Cokes Pit is a 10.3 hectare site which has its own lake surrounded by a narrow strip of willow trees and grassland.

It is situated opposite the popular Keynes Country Park and the plan is to open it up to anglers, bird watchers, dog walkers, school parties and visitors to Keynes Park.

Meg Davies, the Cotswold Water Park's biodiversity and minerals officer, said the new reserve will eventually be one of a network developed across the country to provide natural green space within walking distance for everyone.

She said: "This is an ambitious but important target to increase people's awareness and enjoyment of their natural environment."

The society, which leases and manages Cokes Pit, has been given a £14,000 grant from English Heritage to carry out improvement work at Cokes Pit and other potential reserve sites.

Dr Simon Pickering, the water park's acting chief executive, said Cokes Pit was a special place. "It is teeming with wildlife but also provides a tranquil place for people to walk around," he said.

A community open day will be held on Saturday August 30 to give people the chance to see what work is planned and to put forward their own ideas.

Work already planned at Cokes Pit includes footpath, footbridge and bird hide improvements along with the pollarding and coppicing of willows, fencing to protect nesting birds plus the creation of a roost for Daubenton bats.

The creation of a pond complex for educational pond dipping will allow the site to be used by visiting school children.