Kendal Town Council has acquired two prime open spaces set to enhance the local landscape and community welfare.

The first plot, off Vicarage Drive, is marked for improvements to pathways and an educational biodiversity scheme.

Cllr Eamonn Hennessy, Chair of the Town Council’s Environment Committee said: "We first looked into the ownership of this land as part of our ongoing project to improve the state of our town’s footpaths.

"It took a while to establish who actually owned it, but we were delighted to find that the owners, a property development company, were willing to gift this to us at no cost.

"The Town Council is committed to creating a space that not only preserves and enhances the natural habitat, but may also serve as an educational resource for local schools.

"We are working with the local conservation group Natural Kendal, with input from the local community, to develop a long-term sustainable plan for the area.

"We are also working with Westmorland and Furness Council to improve the footpaths in the area, as part of our ambition to make it easier, safer and more inviting for children to walk to school and we’re hopeful this work will be completed in the near future’.

A second plot at Mintsfeet, by the River Kent, is poised to accelerate completion of a footpath and cycleway scheme connected with the Environment Agency's flood protection works.

Vice Chair of the Council’s Environment Committee, Cllr Giles Archibald, said: "It was apparent that in order to maximise the connectivity potential of the EA’s scheme of footpaths and cycleways in the Mintsfeet area we would need to address a gap in the network which was due to this piece of land being in private ownership.

"We negotiated a fair market price with the owner and we’re thrilled at the prospect of developing this land, linking up with the EA’s completed paths and ensuring that residents and visitors can take full advantage of the enhancements in the area."

Site surveys are currently underway at both locations.

Some ash dieback has been identified at the Vicarage Drive location, which may require work to ensure continued safety for members of the public.

The Town Council, working alongside South Cumbria Rivers Trust, has identified some invasive species around Mintsfeet.

This will require specialist treatment over the next couple of years.

During a meeting of the Town Council’s Management Committee, Cllr Hennessy gave assurances that surveys indicated no major hurdles to restoring these sites as treasured parts of the green links uniting the town.