As part of the Sulham Woodmeadows project, a wetland is being created to take advantage of existing seasonal flooding in a field close to the Great Western Main Line. The newly dug sections will retain water for longer and allow wet loving plant communities to thrive, increasing biodiversity and provide greater opportunity for wading birds breeding in the area.
Read more about the wider project.
BioCap is working with Action for the River Kennet and excavations are now complete:
Archaeological surveys were completed during which a Mesolithic hand axe was found by Wessex Archaeology - read more on their Facebook post.
Top soil has being stripped and re-instated after and series of pools were dug with shallow gradated margins creating suitable conditions for many species.
Reseeding of the surrounding field and the wetland will then take place in the early autumn
The wetland creation was made possible with support from the Mend the Gap programme and the area utilised for wetland is excluded from the Biodiversity Net Gain project area.
The wetland creation phase of Sulham Woodmeadows project has been supported by the Mend the Gap programme. The vision of the Mend the Gap programme is that the outstanding national landscape that links the Chilterns and the North Wessex Downs will be enhanced and enriched for wildlife, residents, and visitors, helping to heal and soften the scars left by electrification of the Great Western main line.
For general information about the Mend the Gap programme please refer to website www.mendthegap.uk.
Please direct any questions about the Mend the Gap programme to mendthegap@chilterns.org.uk and cc in the programme manager at Rstaplesrolfe@chilterns.org.uk.
Comments