Farmland to Be Restored to Boost Wildlife in 30-Year Project
A company is working with a farming family to reinstate a traditional orchard and enhance grassland on land that has been farmed for decades.
A 30-year project is underway to restore former farmland into a thriving wildlife area, aiming to enhance existing grassland with specialist wildflower and herb mixes. The initiative is focused on a site in Great Gaddesden that has been farmed by the same family for approximately 80 years.
The land is situated within a wildlife corridor that adjoins Highpark Wood, an ancient woodland, and the Great Gaddesden Water Meadows. This area is home to the River Gade, a rare chalk stream, and is inhabited by species such as otters and water voles.
The project, led by a company that acquires land for nature restoration, aims to reinstate a traditional orchard, which was historically present on the land but lost over a century ago. Local children will also have opportunities to visit the restored area.
Giles Perry, co-founder of the company, stated that working with the long-term farming family is significant as they begin to reintroduce nature to the land. He explained that while species such as brown hares, hedgehogs, and great crested newts are found nearby, decades of arable farming have made it challenging for them to maintain their habitats. The project's core objective is to provide these species with the space to return and thrive.
The farming family will continue their role as land managers throughout the project's duration. This collaboration ensures the continuation of land management practices while integrating nature restoration goals. The enhanced grassland will feature specialist wildflower and herb mixes designed to support local biodiversity.