MEMBERS of the public are being invited to attend a special meeting to discuss the proposed designation of Upton Towans as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) next week.

The meeting will be at the Passmore Edwards Building, Hayle, at 7pm on Tuesday, January 27, and is being organised by the county council's Environment and Heritage Service and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

Under discussion will be the proposed LNR declaration, with the comments of residents taken into consideration.

Community liaison officer Sarah Byham said: "Local nature reserve status will add to the protection of this beautiful area already in place through the Wildlife Trust management and from its SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status.

"As part of English Nature's Wildspace! programme, we would like to encourage local people to become involved in the management of the area, encouraging the use of Upton Towans for educational purposes and environmental activities."

The project is being funded by the Wildspace! grant scheme, which last year awarded £103,000 to the Environment and Heritage Service, on behalf of the local partnership, to look at a number of areas in Cornwall with the intention of converting them into local nature reserves.

Red River and Gwithian Green have already been turned into LNRs, with Upton Towans, Gwithian Towans and Gwithian Sands to follow shortly.

Sarah said that by designating the area a LNR they would be able to carry out biological surveys, host community events and produce informative leaflets, as well as look at improving access.