THE future of Lye Valley Nature Reserve will be discussed by the leader of the Green Party on a visit tomorrow.

Natalie Bennett will tour the reserve in Headington to discuss threats to its existence with Dr Judy Webb of the Friends of Lye Valley.

In March the Oxford Mail revealed a new bus route had been proposed which would cross the nature reserve.

Ms Bennett said: “I was intrigued to learn that a third of the 61 rarest plants in Oxfordshire are not in the countryside but in a unique valley surrounded by Oxford. “ She said she will discuss “serious threats” to the site.

Lye Valley is a rare wet environment fed by lime-rich springs along the valley walls.

Ms Bennett will also visit Asylum Welcome’s offices in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, to promote the humane treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers.

She wants the UK to accept its “fair share” of migrants.