Two green spaces are set to return to the management of the county council for the first time in over 40 years.

Ufton Fields Nature Reserve and Stockton Cutting have been looked after by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) since 1980 but will now return back to Warwickshire County Council (WCC)

The previous agreement between the two expired earlier this year and both will now be managed by WCC's country parks and green spaces service

Ufton Fields Nature Reserve, located between Ufton and Harbury, is a former limestone quarry that has been allowed to renaturalise, and now provides essential habitats for various wildlife species.

The site was gifted to WCC in 1972 and went on to receive classification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1973.

The SSSI classification was granted due to the variety of invertebrate species found on the site, including dragonflies and butterflies. The location is also important for orchids, most notably the Man Orchid, which is extremely rare in Warwickshire.

Stockton Cutting, a smaller SSSI site and former railway cutting that sits approximately one mile north of Stockton, provides a rich limestone habitat rarely found in Warwickshire, perfect for nurturing populations of orchids, butterflies, birds and fungi.

Ufton Fields was made a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1973 (image by Steven Cheshire)

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Cllr Heather Timms, portfolio holder for environment, climate and culture, said: "We're thrilled to announce that Warwickshire Country Parks is taking on the management of these two sites.

"These stunning locations are a fantastic addition to our portfolio, and we are excited to be able to share them with visitors.

"We look forward to working with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and local communities to ensure that these sites are preserved and enjoyed for years to come."

Karl Curtis, director of nature reserves at WTT, said: "We are delighted that Warwickshire County Council are in a position to take back the management of the land for wildlife.

"We will continue to support the council in their work at these sites.

"This transition allows us to focus our efforts on areas of land that need more support to become beneficial to wildlife.

"We are incredibly proud of what we and our volunteers have achieved at Ufton Fields and Stockton Cutting and look forward to seeing the work continuing under the council."