PROPOSALS to designate an East Cornwall beauty spot as a local nature reserve would boost its value as a tourist destination and protect its floral and fauna, a Cornwall councillor said this week.

Kit Hill has long been a popular site for locals and dog walkers, but the benefits of making it a nature reserve will increase people's awareness and enjoyment of the area.

Cornwall Council is looking for support from local councils, partners and Natural England as the designating authority.

Member of the Kit Hill Advisory Group and Cornwall councillor for Callington Andrew Long said protecting the site was a good thing, but it needed to be looked at properly.

'Adding value to Kit Hill as a tourist destination as well as protecting all the species that grow and live there would be good. It would also protect the land against any development or changes in circumstances,' he said.

Countryside manager for Cornwall Council, Tim Bird, said contrary to what some people thought, making the area a local nature reserve would not result in the restriction of public access.

'We will not be fencing off areas and the public access people enjoy at the moment will remain. As a local nature reserve it will be on a national database so ultimately more people will know about it and it will open up opportunities to get funding for better management of the site.'

Mr Bird said with the designation, Kit Hill would be able to enter into the High Level Stewardship Scheme to help manage the lowland heath, now a rare habitat in Britain, public access and biodiversity.

Other benefits would be providing an environment for everyone to learn about and study nature, build relationships with local people and provide an opportunity for local residents to become involved in managing their local environment through study, play and practical volunteer tasks.

Kit Hill will continue with its programme of guided walks and children's activities like pond dipping, mini beast safaris and wildlife hunts.