A NATURE reserve is set to be established in York to protect two of the city's oldest and most diverse natural habitats.

Council bosses have been advised to designate Acomb Wood and Acomb Meadow as a statutory Local Nature Reserve (LNR), a move which would bring a string of benefits to the sites and the local community.

In a report to the council's leisure and culture panel and housing panel, officers wrote that LNR status would:

* Increase awareness and enjoyment of the natural environment.

* Provide an ideal environment for people to study nature.

* Build relationships between local authorities, local people and conservationists.

* Protect wildlife habitats and natural features.

* Offer a positive use for land which the council would prefer to be left undeveloped.

* Make it possible to apply by-laws, helping to manage and protect the site.

The report, written by community leisure officer Stephen Whittaker and head of parks and open spaces Dave Meigh, also said LNR status could lead to additional assistance from Natural England, and opportunities for funding from other sources, such as the Big Lottery Fund.

The wood hit the headlines last year, when arsonists destroyed two newly-built bridges, and vandals have also caused a series of problems, but the new move has been backed by the Friends Of Acomb Wood.

Peter Reid, the group's treasurer and acting chairman, said: "It's available to everybody, and if we can encourage the few people who are vandals not to be, and encourage dog owners to pick up their mess, we would go a long way. The wood is special."

The officers' report says that Acomb Meadow has been managed as grassland for the past 300 years.

It adds: "This small area of unimproved grassland is the last of its kind in this area of the city, mainly due to development.

"This meadow is species rich and includes several species of fine grasses along with wildflowers."

The report says the meadow supports a large diversity of invertebrates which, in turn, support bird populations and small mammals such as wood mice, voles, shrews and weasels.

On the adjacent wood, which dates back more than two centuries, the officers wrote: "It is a mature, even aged woodland dominated mainly by oak but with an under-storey of hazel and bramble. There are also abundant hornbeams and birch with occasional rowan, whitebeam, Scots pine and black poplars."

They described it as a "welcome refuge amongst a heavily-urbanised area".

The housing panel will consider the report on Monday, with the leisure and culture panel following suit on Tuesday.