Birstall beauty spot Oakwell Hall looks set to become a local nature reserve.

The 110-acre country park, which includes woodland, managed farmland and wild meadows, attracts more than 200,000 visitors a year. By becoming a local nature reserve Kirklees Council can protect the site from development.

Eric Brown, senior museum officer at Oakwell Hall, said becoming a local nature reserve would also help with grants from English Nature.

"Oakwell Hall was donated to Kirklees Council in the 1920s with a small parcel of land surrounding it. Over the years more land has been acquired including the site of the former Gomersal Colliery in the 1970s which has been reclaimed," he said.

"The rangers have done an incredible job in creating a diverse habitat for people to enjoy as well as attracting wildlife to the urban fringe. Becoming a local nature reserve recognises all of this."

An area must be of natural interest to be designated a local nature reserve and offer opportunities for the public to learn about nature or to simply enjoy it.

Senior councillors were to vote on the matter today. If successful it will need to be publicised and English Nature informed.

Ranger Patrick Crowley said work to manage the country park was always ongoing, including the creation of new pathways and ponds as well as nature conservation.

"We have created meadows and grassland called Colliery Fields from levelling and landscaping the old colliery site. We brought in hay from other parts of Kirklees which was spread on the ground and the wildflower seeds it contained have grown. It's amazing the wildflowers that are there now. There are even cowslips coming through now that we haven't seen before.

"In 30 years we have turned it into something that looks quite natural."

Volunteer groups such as the Friends of Oakwell Hall have also contributed greatly to the success of Oakwell. Free courses on traditional countryside skills such as drystone walling, hedgelaying and coppicing are currently running at Oakwell for environmental groups and volunteers.

Kirklees currently has six local nature reserves, including one at Lower Spen. As well as Oakwell Hall, councillors were also considering Gledholt Woods today.