Plans to transform a stretch of grassland in Sawley into a nature-focused open space have now been formally backed by funding – as debate continues over how the project has been handled.
Erewash Borough Council has confirmed that the site – a field off Tamworth Road, near All Saints Church – is included in its latest investment programme, with £46,500 allocated to support its development into a managed public open space.
In council documents, the land is referred to as “Bothe Meadow”, although that is not a name widely used locally.
The council has previously described the scheme as an opportunity to create a new nature-focused space on land it owns in Sawley.
Initial works have already taken place, including fencing and site preparation, with plans expected to include planting, habitat creation and changes to how the land is managed.
The funding will support:
- Landscaping
- Signage
- A long-term management plan balancing public access with environmental protection
The project also sits alongside wider environmental initiatives across the borough, including investment in biodiversity schemes such as wildflower planting and habitat improvements.
However, the scheme has already proved controversial.
As previously reported by Ilkeston News, residents raised concerns after work began on the site before many felt a clear explanation had been provided.
Concerns included:
- The removal of hedgerows and boundary features
- Potential impact on wildlife during nesting season
- Claims that decisions had effectively already been made before public input
Some locals also argued the field was already supporting biodiversity and had long been used as managed farmland.
The reaction prompted a strong community response, with questions not just about the plans – but about how they were communicated.
The inclusion of the site in the council’s £6.5 million Erewash Investment Fund confirms that the project is progressing.
The fund is intended to support projects across the borough focused on regeneration, community improvements and environmental priorities.
Within that, the Sawley scheme is described as creating a “valuable new community asset” while protecting ecological value.
The development comes amid a wider shift in how green spaces are managed across Erewash, with increased emphasis on biodiversity and rewilding.
While the council has highlighted environmental benefits, some residents have questioned whether changes are being introduced without sufficient engagement – or are being driven by other pressures.
That tension is now playing out clearly in Sawley.
With funding now confirmed, attention will turn to:
- How the site is developed and managed
- Whether further consultation takes place
- And how concerns raised by residents are addressed
For now, the direction of travel appears set – but the debate around the project is far from settled.