130 hectares of poor arable land on West Berkshire’s eastern boundary with Reading is about to be transformed into a mosaic of grassland, wildflower meadow, ponds, wetlands, scrub and woodland, with four kilometres of new hedgerows running through it.
A West Berkshire based not-forprofit social enterprise is acting as the catalyst for major changes in the countryside of West Berkshire. BioCap Limited, founded by Ed Cooper, has been working with Sulham Estate and other partners to create new wildlife habitat, on less productive arable land, to reverse biodiversity loss and mitigate climate change.
Sulham Estate has purchased the first wildflower and grassland seed, with sowing underway in September. The Sulham Woodmeadows project is the first of a series of potential projects that will use biodiversity net gain funding to bring about significant habitat creation.
Henry Scutt, the owner of Sulham Estate, says: “We are excited to be at the forefront of habitat creation and look forward to continuing to work with BioCap to restore nature on the land that we manage. Together, we are creating a large new area of high-quality wildlife habitat that we hope will be of huge value to our local community.”
Ed Cooper, the founder of BioCap, says “Sulham Woodmeadows is a great start for us and our efforts to reverse biodiversity loss. This project will not only increase biodiversity and store some carbon but will create a long-term countryside haven that a great number of people living nearby can walk through and enjoy for years to come”.
BioCap has been working with West Berkshire Council, Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC), Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment, Action for the River Kennet ,and landowners in the West Berkshire Natural Solutions Delivery Partnership to plan how nature based solutions, such as tree planting and meadow creation can be linked into the planning system to create and enhance new habitats that support a diverse range of species.
For further information contact Ed Cooper – ed.cooper@biocap.org.uk
Ed will be talking at West Berkshire’s Natural Environment MeetUp group on 3rd October at 18:30 at the Newbury Corn Exchange - https://www.meetup.com/west-berkshires-natural-environment-meetup-group/ events/295609568/
West Berkshire Natural Solutions Delivery Partnership - https://www.westberks.gov.uk/article/41773/Natural-Solutions-Delivery-Partnership
It was fantastic to hear from Dr. Mike Morecroft about the potential of Nature Based Interventions to offset carbon emissions and enhance biodiversity. His insights into leveraging natural solutions for climate change are incredibly valuable. As we explore these opportunities, it's crucial to integrate this knowledge into our academic work. For students tackling complex topics like these in their coursework, seeking biology assignment help can be a great way to ensure a thorough understanding and effective application of these concepts. Engaging with experts like Dr. Morecroft not only enriches our knowledge but also provides practical examples that can be applied in academic assignments and beyond.
Looks good. Very good indeed However I am aware of the ground breeding skylarks and wondering how you will keep walkers away from their nests. Please also put signs up advising Dog Walkers (I'm one as well) where they can safely let their dog off lead.
Good luck with your plans
can I ask ik you have had any kind of Archaeological assessment done?