Bury Council are drawing up the borough's first biodiversity strategy to see what can be done to conserve and enhance it.

Proposals have now gone out for public consultation and people have until February 20 to have their say.

The borough has experienced significant decline for some species and the way Bury Council manages its land and buildings has a big effect on local diversity.

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As part of the strategy, land management is identified one of the ways the state of biodiversity in Bury can be helped.

Once the consultation period ends, comments will be reviewed, and an updated report presented to the council’s cabinet in the spring.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “We know the natural environment is important for our physical and mental health, for reducing flood risk, for improving air quality and many other reasons.

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“It affects our quality of life and that of the wildlife we share it with.

“Our natural environment faces many challenges, but also some opportunities.

“We’ve been through an industrial revolution yet the canals and reservoirs which served it are now some of our most important wildlife sites.

“We have increasing problems with invasive species such as giant hogweed, but the possibility of the return of species such as otter and beaver.

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“Diseases such as ash die-back are a real threat but, working with local organisations such as the Wildlife Trust and City of Trees, we are planting more new trees than ever.

“This is the council’s first ever biodiversity strategy, and we want it to make a difference.”

To read the draft and have your say, click visit the Bury Council website.