AN OXFORD beauty spot will open to the public in spring 2013 after scooping a £70,000 funding award.

Wolvercote Lakes, which were bequeathed to Oxford Preservation Trust by Viv Kirk seven years ago, cover an area of more than eight acres alongside the canal and railway between Lower and Upper Wolvercote.

The money allocated through the Grantscape Community Greenspace Challenge Award will finance work around the lake nearest to the village road to improve wildlife habitats and biodiversity as well as creating entrances, footpaths, bridges, a viewing hide and pond dipping platforms.

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance said: “This space meant a great deal to Mr Kirk and we are keen to improve its contribution to conservation while keeping its special atmosphere, and to share it with a wider audience.

“The success of the Grantscape Award allows us to move towards providing access in the way we know so many local Oxford people would like.”

She added: “He was a chap who lived in Jericho – a local character and he used to go up to the lakes every day. Local people will remember him because at one point he used to let people fish on the lakes.

“He also had a large collection of traction engines, which he left to another group, and he used to keep those at the lakes.”

The man-made water features were owned by the Kirk family for two generations.

Before his death Mr Kirk approached the trust to discuss the future of the lakes, although the charity was unaware then that he had bequeathed it the site.

Mrs Dance added: “He was very concerned to make sure they were looked after properly.

“He loved them and wanted to make sure that other people could enjoy them.”

Mr Kirk bequeathed his home in Walton Well Road, Jericho, to the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary at Stahampton to try to secure its future.

Now volunteers and conservation workers are looking forward to opening the lakes to visitors. Volunteer Jo Malden said: “We welcome the new plans which provide the right balance of preserving and encouraging a sanctuary for wildlife while offering the residents a place of discovery, which we can all take pride in.”