Former farmland to be restored to boost wildlife

5 hours ago

Alex PopeBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

News image — The project will restore woodland and scrub in the area to enhance existing grassland with specialist wildflower and herb seed mixes

Naturum A large farmland, with lots of trees in it, with bushes and hedges. There is also a road running through it and houses in a valley below. — The project will restore woodland and scrub in the area to enhance existing grassland with specialist wildflower and herb seed mixes

Arable land farmed by a family for about 80 years is to be restored to an orchard and wildlife area.

A 30-year project will be undertaken on a 70-acre (28 hectareS) site at Pipers Hill, Great Gaddesden, close to Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire and aims to enhance existing grassland with specialist wildflower and herb seed mixes.

Work is due to start later this year and will be undertaken by landowners Naturum.

Animals expected to benefit include native British species such as brown hares, hedgehogs, great crested newts, common toads and the Small Heath butterfly, a spokesperson for the company said.

Naturum A number of trees in a field, showing one large one at the front. — Pipers Hill sits within the Chilterns National Character Area, and is about three miles (5km) from Hemel Hempstead

The company, which buys land to restore it to nature, said a traditional orchard "that once stood on the land but was lost over a century ago" would be reinstated.

It sits within a "wildlife corridor" adjoining Highpark Wood, an ancient woodland, and the Great Gaddesden Water Meadows, home to the River Gade, a rare chalk stream, otters and water voles, it added.

The farming family will remain as long-term land managers and local children will be able to visit.

Giles Perry, co-founder of the company, said: "This land has been farmed by the same family for the best part of 80 years, and it means a great deal to us to be working alongside them as we start to bring nature back to it.

"Species like brown hares, hedgehogs and great crested newts are all found nearby, but decades of arable farming have made it harder for them to continue making their habitats here.

"Giving them the space to come back is really what this project is about."

Naturum A river, in the middle of a field, with grass either side, stones in it, bushes, reeds and trees in the distance. — River Gade runs through the site

The work is part of the Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which identified the area as a priority location for woodland, scrub and grassland recovery.

It is hoped it will "ease pressure on the River Gade which, like chalk streams nationally, has been put under stress by modern farming practices," the spokesperson added.