A WILDLIFE haven will be protected and developed following a succesful bid for lottery cash.

Environmental groups have been awarded £24,365 to develop Hall Lee Bank Park in Westhoughton.

The cash can be used to buy tools, to manage the park's wildlife habitats and to produce leaflets and information booklets.

It will come from the National Lottery and will be distributed by the Countryside Agency as part of a Local Heritage Initiative Project.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Bolton Council and the Hall Lee Bank Park Management Committee are now deciding exactly how the money will be spent.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust spokesman Ben Hargreaves said: "Hall Lee Bank Park is a magnet for local wildlife.

"Birds such as grey wagtails, great spotted woodpeckers, kingfishers and sparrow hawks have all raised young there in previous years.

"In the 'wildest' area near Daisy Hill station there are several plants and trees that indicate areas of an ancient woodland -- a rare and valuable natural resource for the Bolton borough."

Lancashire Wildlife Trust is now working in partnership with Bolton Council and Westhoughton Town Council to declare Hall Lee Bank Park a local nature reserve by spring. It would be the first in Westhoughton and the fourth in the borough.

Mr Hargreaves said: "Hall Lee Bank Park provides local people with a chance to study and observe local wildlife. We hope to improve these opportunities even more."

The cash windfall has been welcomed by environmental campaigners from local conservation group Save Westhoughton Act Now (SWAN).

SWAN member Dave Fearnley said: "There are hundreds of species of flora, fauna and animals in Hall Lee Bank Park.

"The money will come in useful for promoting the park and in making it more accessible for the public.

"If the park does become a nature reserve the plants and animals will also be better protected.

"It will help ensure the park is enjoyed by future generations of nature lovers."