Former golf course set to reopen as nature reserve

A former golf course is set to reopen as a nature reserve, and some walkers have praised the new "doggy paradise" on their doorstep.

The Erewash Borough Council-owned Pewit Golf Course in Ilkeston shut in 2022 due to "substantial financial operating losses".

The rewilding project, to create a patchwork of "open mosaic habitats" to encourage a variety of wildlife, at the new 25-acre Pewit Coronation Meadows Local Nature Reserve began in August 2024.

Ahead of the ribbon cutting and guided tour on Tuesday, visitors said it was now "a lovely spot".

Guy Gibson, 71, lives a stone's throw from the site and remembers when it was all fairways and greens.

Mr Gibson, who was walking 18-month-old pup Teddy with his wife Dawn, said: "It was a nice open space, but it did suffer a lot with lots of days when it couldn't be played because of the condition of the ground.

"There was concern about what it might be, but when it became clear that it was going to be a nature reserve, that looked good.

"These paths have made an enormous difference. It's made it so you can walk in all weathers, and it's really improved the use of it - and a lot more people do now seem to be making use of it.

"It's a doggy paradise now for Teddy on his doorstep."

More than 1,500 trees and shrubs have been planted over the past year, including oaks and sweet chestnuts, the council said.

A network of new paths and picnic benches have been installed, and wildflower butterfly and bug banks planted.

The site links to the wider Nutbrook Trail, plus the green spaces of Straws Bridge, Manor Floods and Pewit Carr.

Wim Clarke, 72, from Derby, was visiting with his sister Anne Wasiukiewicz, 75, of Chaddesden, at the reserve.

He said: "It's wonderful, and it's very interesting.

"It's not rectangular or linear, every corner you go round is something different."

In February 2024, the council had planned to sell a nine-acre slice of the site for housing.

But after a campaign said the development proposal "ignored the wishes of local people", a decision was made to rewild the entire site.

Janet Woods, 59, who was walking through the site with her rescue dog Rupert, agreed this was the right decision.

She said: "It's very refreshing to think that they haven't built houses on it, and that the locals now have still got this space for themselves, for their animals, and for their children as well to come and explore.

"Things are getting squeezed out now with property, and to think that we're going to lose such a beautiful plot like we've got now would be quite upsetting, but thankfully we didn't.

"It will be well used, without a doubt."

The £500,000 project has been funded by central government and businesses involved in the redevelopment of the old Stanton Ironworks.

The council said Natural England and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust had both backed the project.

Erewash's lead councillor for the environment, Mark Alfrey, said: "We are thrilled at Pewit Coronation Meadows becoming our 12th nature reserve.

"It is a place the entire community can enjoy - and is yet another boost to the health and wellbeing of the borough's residents as we embark on a long-term 30-year plan for the land which is being drawn up with the support of Natural England."

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