Appeal Against Refusal of Planning Permission - Update 22.06.23

 MK Councils defence of their decision and arguments against the appeal can be seen at:

https://npaedms.milton-keynes.gov.uk/PublicAccess_Corplive/SearchResult/RunThirdPartySearch?FileSystemId=DC&FOLDER1_REF=21/02533/OUTEIS

What's Going On

We have received a few enquiries regarding what the position is with the reserve, if and when the centre will be finished and what is happening regarding FoLLNR events.

The Centre Building Renovation

According to the Parks Trust at our last meeting with them at the end of May, the appropriate licensing etc regarding bat roosts and relocation of great crested newts found within the building site area are in place. Newts found within the construction site will be relocated to appropriate areas outside the building area but will remain on the reserve. Newt proof fencing is scheduled to be installed and revised planning permission to allow for the changes required to cater for the wildlife is expected very soon. Work should therefore be able to resume towards the end of the summer with completion sometime in the spring of next year.

The Parks Trust also have plans to instal a few more benches around the site and to do repair and refurbishment work on boardwalks and bridges, although some of this work may need to coincide with the reopening of the centre building.

FoLLNR Events

Work parties

We continue to arrange work parties on an ad hoc basis depending on what's required and availability of helpers, materials etc. We always send out an email to all registered Friends to advise when and what work we would like help with. Whilst the centre building is unavailable we don't have toilet, washing and catering facilities available and therefore we try and keep work periods fairly short to avoid any discomfort. Please look out for emails advising of forthcoming task days. Work parties are a good opportunity to meet like minded people and you will never be asked to do anything with which you are not comfortable or beyond your capabilities.

Open Sundays

We would like to resume open Sundays as soon as is practically possible, but of course this is entirely dependant on the completion of the centre building.

Guided walks

Thanks to Andy Harding and Keith Gander for leading a very successful "Warbler Walk' in early May - an unexpected bonus on the day was the sighting of an otter on the main lake. We may be able to organise other similar events over the course of the year but again due to the lack of on site facilities and limited parking these will need to be limited in size and fairly short in duration. We will email out notice to all registered Friends as appropriate.

Records of Wildlife Sightings

FoLLNR maintain a list of the different species seen on site for each year. This can be seen by clicking on the Species List tab on the top of this website.

Another good way to find out what's being spotted is by going to our FLICKR site: 

 https://www.flickr.com/groups/fohescimages/

Please do add your own pictures of anything you capture at LLNR, we would love to see your photos. We also use records of verifiable sightings to update BMERC so that official county records are kept up to date.