Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve is set to expand by over 13 acres following a £240,000 investment from Charnwood Borough Council. The funding, awarded from developer contributions, will be used by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to improve habitats and boost biodiversity at the site.
What the reserve supports
The reserve is already an exceptional wetland supporting abundant wildlife throughout the year. Wildfowl including gadwall, tufted duck and mallard are regularly recorded, with winter bringing flocks of wigeon, teal, shoveler and snipe.
How the funding will be used
The investment will enable the Trust to provide long-term habitat management in the reserve extension. The additional 13.6 acres will be managed using extensive conservation grazing to allow natural processes to shape the landscape.
Over time, this approach is expected to encourage the development of species-rich grassland, creating valuable habitats for a wide range of wildlife. As the grassland matures, the Trust expects to see increasing biodiversity, with butterflies such as small copper, common blue and brimstone becoming more frequent.
Council backing for the project
Councillor Birgitta Worrall, the Council's Lead Member for Planning, said the expansion demonstrates how developer contributions can deliver lasting benefits for communities and the environment. Councillor Beverley Gray, the Council's Lead Member for Climate Action and Net Zero, described the reserve as one of Leicestershire's most significant wetland sites and said the expansion would create more opportunities for wildlife while strengthening habitat resilience.
Wildlife Trust's vision
Ben Devine, Head of Nature Recovery at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, said: "Bringing a further 13.6 acres into the reserve will create significantly more space for nature to recover in the area, while strengthening and connecting the important habitats already found here. Our long-term vision is to restore a connected, wildlife-rich landscape along the River Soar, where the river and its floodplain can function more naturally. This extension is an important step towards that goal, giving wildlife more room to feed, breed and move through the landscape."