A popular wildlife habitat near Cockermouth is up for sale.

Residents who regularly walk in the area, known as Soddy Gap, are so concerned about it being developed they are calling for it to be registered as a community asset, which means they would have to be given the opportunity to buy it.

Soddy Gap forms part of Broughton Lodge, which was recently put on the market for £1.25 million.

The former 483-acre open cast coal mining site, which includes some derelict buildings, is owned by a mining company. 

The area was restored by the coal authority and comprises a large pond, two smaller ones, young trees, marsh, scrub and grasslands.

The wetland habitat supports an extensive bird and wildfowl population and is accessible by wheelchair

Allerdale councillor Nicky Cockburn, of Great Broughton, said: "It's a wonderful nature reserve and bird watchers from all over the country go there.

"It's very well used by all generations, we have all walked there.

"People take their kids to ride bikes there because it's safe.

"You can walk the whole way to Broughton Moor without any traffic and it can be used by disabled people. It's a real community asset."

She was concerned to hear it had recently been put on the market with Cockermouth land agents Davidson and Robertson Rural.

The site is for sale as a whole or in eight lots.

The derelict buildings are described as offering "excellent development opportunity subject to obtaining the necessary consents". 

She said: "We don't want an environmental thug getting hold of it and developing it. Lots of people are worried about this. They were shocked to hear it is up for sale." 

She is keen to register it with Allerdale council as a community asset, which would mean that local groups would have to be given the chance to buy it.

She posted a request on social networking website Facebook for 21 local people to form a group which could then apply for the consent.

She added: "Within a few hours of putting something on Facebook I got all the names."

Coun Cockburn has applied for it to be registered.

She said: "If it is registered we have six months in which to decide if we want to buy it. This gives us some breathing space to get ourselves together and hopefully protect it."

There are plans to hold a public meeting.

She added: "It would be great if we could find someone that would buy it for us, so it could be left as it is," she said.

"When you see the price it is up for you think whoever buys it will not be the type to leave it alone."

The RSPB lists Soddy Gap as a prime bird watching site.

Tree sparrow, yellow hammer and grasshopper warblers have been spotted around the car parking area.

On the ponds, there is a good selection of wildfowl including tufted duck, mallard, teal, wigeon, pochard and goldeneye.

There are also resident greylags and Canada goose. Greenland whitefronts have been recorded there, as have kestrels, sparrowhawks, buzzards, barn owls, short eared owls and hen harriers.