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Village gets back to nature

From the archive, first published Wednesday 6th Sep 2006.

WORKMEN are to build a 30ft pond to help wildlife that struggles to find water during heatwaves.

Villagers want to create the pond because a nearby pool in Mobberley dried up as temperatures soared this summer.

"Some Canadian geese arrived with fledglings, but they had nowhere to go," said Councillor Jim Shepherd.

"If we create a new water pool all the species that want water can hop off to that."

Plans to create the pond are now among proposals for Mobberley's 18-acre nature reserve.

The hole would be 30ft long, 23ft wide and 8ft deep. Councillor Shepherd said workmen would create the pond near the other pool so animals could still find it. "We want to keep water there all the time so they can still see it," he said.

Villagers bought the land almost four years ago to keep out developers.

But plans for the nature reserve have been delayed by planning processes, conservation concerns and other red tape.

However, last week Councillor Shepherd said the proposals should be submitted to Macclesfield Borough Council within the next four months.

"We're still very enthusiastic about it," he said. "We've just been struggling with some of the regulations."

Residents and Mobberley Parish Council paid more than £36,000 for the land near Fieldside Close. Volunteers have already filled in potholes, erected a fence and planted 40 trees.

They now hope to create 10,000ft of paths, with 6,500ft of walkways that are accessible for disabled people.

Officials also recently agreed to build eight car parking spaces and a picnic area.

Councillor Shepherd, who is chairman of Mobberley Parish Council, said the nature reserve could become a village focal point.

"We want it to look very rural and it really is about getting close to nature," he said.

Mobberley Village Society will also erect a stone memorial on the land as a tribute to Mobberley-born mountaineer George Mallory.

The legendary climber disappeared during his attempt to become the first man to conquer Mount Everest in 1924.