£1m paid for new nature reserve

Purple heather remains at a few areas of Broadwater Warren

A 445-acre site once earmarked for landfill is to be turned into a heath and woodland nature reserve after being bought by a charity for nearly £1m.

The site, west of the A26 and south of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was originally heathland but has been covered by conifer plantations for 50 years.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said grants and legacies enabled it to buy Broadwater Warren.

The RSPB expects restoring the heathland will take 10 years.

"We are thrilled to have acquired this site," said Martin Allison, RSPB Wealden heaths and woodlands manager.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us to turn it into a fully-functioning nature reserve, but the rewards will be high."

The society first became interested in the site in 1991, when local residents asked it to help prevent the area becoming landfill.

It was bought from a private landowner for £995,000.

The nightjar is among rare birds that will benefit from the reserve

Grants of £553,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £486,000 from environmental charity Grantscape, £70,000 from the European Community and £123,000 provided the funding.

As well as the conifer plantations, the area includes ancient woodland and ponds, all of which need restoration.

The finished reserve will have areas of heathland with purple flowering heather and will form a key link in a chain of wildlife sites across the Wealden forest ridge.

Bird species expected to benefit include nightjars and Dartford warblers.

"Our first job will be to employ a site manager to oversee the work," said Mr Allison.

"Then we will start a public consultation to ensure our plans meet everyone's approval."

There are no plans to turn the site, which will fall into the RSPB's "quiet enjoyment" category of reserve, into a major visitor centre.