Proposal to name island in Cleethorpes Country Park in honour of former NELC ecology manager

                                                             

Cleethorpes Country Park - with the island in the background and the dog bathing area on the right. The wading bird is a great white egret. 

THE island in the lake in Cleethorpes Country Park is soon likely to be named the Mike Sleight Island.

This would be to commemorate North East Lincolnshire  Council's former ecology manager  who was instrumental in establishing the park in 1988.

The proposal is likely to be rubber-stamped by councillors at a meeting next week.

A report seen by the Grimsby News states: " Mike, who sadly died in September, worked tirelessly to promote, protect and enhance the country park so that it could be of benefit for both nature and people. Mike.

"He was personally responsible for planting thousands of the trees that now grow within the park. 

"His passion for our local environment and wildlife  have contributed to the lives of generations of people in our borough."

                                             

Mike Sleight who sadly died aged 73 in summer

In addition, a section of the path from Martin Wragg Way, near the main entrance, to Links Road could be named Sleight Way.

At the same meeting, councillors will be asked to approve a management plan for the country park which will run to 2026.

Stated aspirations for the park include "improving the dog swimming area to provide a quality green space suitable for community recreation".

Also proposed are  improvements to existing paths and installation of interpretation boards around the site "to showcase the biodiversity and thereby educate the community".

Earlier in the year, there were complaints about the upkeep of the country park but some of these have been addressed - for instance, repairs to footbridges and fishing platforms plus extensive sedge clearance".

A heron admires the view from one of the newly-repaired footbridges

                                   

Overgrown reeds and sedges have recently been cut back to encourage improved water flow