A rare floodplain meadow, located on the banks of the River Nene in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, has been donated to the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire for restoration into a wildflower-rich habitat. The six-hectare (15-acre) site, known as White Mills Meadow, was given to the trust by the Thompson family.
Conservation manager Matt Johnson stated that floodplain meadows represent one of England's rarest habitats, with only approximately 2,000 hectares (4,242 acres) remaining. He expressed gratitude to the Thompson family for their generosity and for entrusting the care of the land to the trust. The restoration plan includes reintroducing hay cuts and bringing conservation grazing livestock onto the site for management.
Historically, floodplain meadows served as traditional countryside features, providing food for grazing animals and absorbing rainwater during winter months. These meadows also support hundreds of insect species by producing nectar-rich native flowers.
This donation aligns with the wildlife trust's broader initiative, unveiled in March 2025, to reverse biodiversity loss across its three counties. According to the trust, wildlife in the UK has declined by 19% since 1970, and nearly one in six species in Great Britain is currently threatened with extinction.