A POPULAR nature reserve is celebrating a new stream of funding which will help it extend and develop.

The Rossett Nature Reserve, at Harrogate, has received a grant of £7,500 from the BBC's Breathing Places campaign.

The reserve was saved from housing development some years ago by the discovery of great crested newts, which are a protected species.

Now jointly managed by a volunteer friends' group and Harrogate Borough Council, strong links have developed with the next-door primary school, Rossett Acre, which also has great crested newts on site.

The land, which now boasts many ponds and a myriad of wildlife, is owned by Taylor Woodrow, who have added a further £10,000 to the funding pot.

Local rural strategy officer Dan McAndrew said the whole group was delighted with the news, which coincides with the nature reserve's annual open day on June 9.

"We shall be using the money to develop our management plan to enhance the habitat for wildlife, especially our great crested newts," he said.

"We also want to increase the number of ponds and to improve such things as access for those with mobility problems.

"Our latest addition is the inclusion of an interpretation board to help visitors get the most from the nature reserve.

"We have also just had approval from the council to extend the reserve to take in a seasonal pond, and we have had an hydrological survey done to help us plan how to best develop the ponds for wildlife."