Local Nature Reserves
Many local authorities in Wales - in urban as
well as rural areas - have set up Local Nature Reserves (LNRs).
There are a total of 62 throughout the country, all with natural
features that are of special interest to their local area.
What are Local Nature Reserves?
These sites can include abandoned quarries, redundant canals or
disused railway sidings as well as woodlands, wetlands, heath lands
and coasts. They can offer fine opportunities for conservation and
education, quiet enjoyment and public appreciation of nature.
They help protect habitats and species and help forge
partnerships between the local authority, nature conservation
organisations and the community. They also make people more aware
of local wildlife and offer an ideal place for children to learn
about nature.
What are the criteria?
- By law, only a local authority can set up a Local Nature
Reserve.
- The site must lie within that local authority area.
- The authority must either have a legal interest in the land or
have reached an agreement with the owner for the land to be managed
as a reserve.