Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) has received £100,000 from Natural England to help encourage more residents to become involved with the local countryside.

The cash has been made available through the Access to Nature scheme, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces initiative and is designed to bring communities closer to nature. Two Access to Nature officers will work with a range of organisations - including Leicestershire County Council, the Woodland Trust and CBC - to organise activities such as arts events and guided walks.

Three sites are to be designated as Local Nature Reserves as part of the project, which will provide the areas with the potential to attract additional funding and gives them a nationally-recognised status. CBC lead member for leisure and environment Peter Lewis said: "There really is some truly superb countryside and stunning green spaces in Charnwood and we would like everyone to be able to enjoy and make the most of them."