A WOODLAND area known as Arnold’s Wood has been given to Bradford on Avon Town Council in order for the area to be secure for the future and to protect its natural habitat.

Arnold’s Wood, which is off Leigh Road close to the Leigh Park Hotel, was owned by the Arnold family and named in memory of Les Arnold, who died in 1992.

The town council are pleased to have been given the land to protect. Communications officer Lydia Booth said: “The town council is honoured to take on the responsibility of Arnold’s Wood from the family.

“This small enclave is important to wildlife and will be incorporated into our Green Spaces management strategy, which will aim to develop green corridors for the protection and development of local biodiversity.

“We are hugely grateful to the Arnold family for donating this woodland to our parish.The location makes the woodland less suitable for use by the public, due to its proximity to a busy road.

“We encourage the public to use our many other green areas which are more suitable for walking or visits so that this area may be managed to nature’s benefit.”

The woodland is just under one acre, and was established with a Landscape Conservation Trust grant after the original apple orchard was destroyed in the storm of 1987.

It was then planted with over 400 native British trees and shrubs, plus some Norway maple.

Since then, the site has been managed by Sandra Arnold with the help of family and friends in tribute to Mr Arnold as well as an important habitat for wildlife to be preserved in.

Green spaces officer Chris Hogg, who is now overseeing the management, said: “This young woodland is a beautiful space, with clever planting resulting in it already feeling like an established, natural place.

“We will survey the flora as it grows this year and manage the site in a light-touch manner.

“Small sites such as these are very important for local wildlife and with plenty of plants, shrubs and trees providing food, Arnold’s Wood could benefit rare animals like hedgehogs and hopefully even the threatened hazel dormouse.”

The council are managing Kingston Farm Wood and the Tory backdrop of trees. They may be taking on more in the future.