Nature Reserves (Hawksmoor and Coombs Valley)

HC Deb 28 March 1963 vol 674 cc191-2W

Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science (1) whether he will give assistance to the Nature Conservancy to enable it to take over Hawksmoor in the Churnet Valley, near Cheadle, Staffordshire, as a nature reserve, in order to ensure the maintenance of its amenities;

(2) whether he will give assistance to the Nature Conservancy to enable it to take over Coombs Valley as a nature reserve, in order to permit the replanting of shrubs and trees and maintenance of the amenities in this valley.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

No. The purposes for which the Nature Conservancy may establish nature reserves are scientific and are specified in Section 15 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. My noble Friend has no power to vary these purposes, which do not include the maintenance of amenities. Neither of the two areas referred to by the hon. Gentleman has been considered by the Conservancy for inclusion in the list of proposed national nature reserves.