Existing woodland adjacent to the National Cycle Route 51 to the south of the proposed watersports lake will create a distinct woodland block at the north of the village of Willington. This woodland accommodates part of the new 3km riverside cycleway, which loops off National Cycle Route 51.
Originally planted when the Grange Estate was worked for sand and gravel in the 1980’s, the woodlands will be restored native species and some areas allowed to develop into ‘wet woodlands’ which are a nationally important wildlife habitat.