Residents of Upper Parkstone have a natural wildlife haven on their doorsteps and they are determined to keep it that way.

Turner’s Nursery off Uppleby Road is an overgrown 2.3-acre site covered in brambles and mature trees, part of the public open space Turner’s Field.

“Over the past 40 years it has become a sanctuary for wildlife in the middle of Upper Parkstone,” said Harriet Stewart-Jones of the Friends of Turner’s Nursery, which recently held a litter-pick.

The Friends was formed last year with the aim of protecting the land, which is owned by Borough of Poole amid fears for its future after it was declared “surplus to operational requirements” for education and an appraisal carried out.

However the council is hoping to use it for a games area – but lacks funding.

The Friends are keen that the land should be for community use but they envisage wildlife friendly orchards and gardens for the use of schoolchildren and other members of the community.

“Branksome Heath Middle School put their kids in a bus and go to Upton Country Park for pond dipping and nature studies. They could have it on their doorstep,” she said.

Residents have gathered a petition nearly 300-strong which was presented to the council, calling for the land to be brought into community use with full consultation with local residents, including the Friends.

Until the 1970s the land was Bill Turner’s nursery, where residents bought their plants and vegetables, and he was well-known for riding his motorbike with sidecar.

Clive Smith, head of leisure services, said: “The council hopes to improve the public open space and provide a hard games area for use by both the schools and the community.

“Leisure services and children and young people’s services have been working together to consult the local community and develop a plan for the area. Unfortunately we are unable to progress the project currently due to a lack of funding.”