Farmers near Wiltshire have secured more than £1 million to improve the countryside in the shadow of power lines. The North Wessex Downs National Landscape has been awarded £1.2 million by National Grid's Landscape Enhancement Initiative.
Funding to support 20 farms and restore habitats
The funding will be distributed to 20 farms within the North Wessex Downs Southern Streams Farmer Group. The money will be used to plant over 1.2 kilometres of new hedgerow and broadleaf woodland, create 10 new ponds, and restore downland in an area stretching between Burbage, near Marlborough, and Vernham Dean on the Wiltshire and Hampshire border. Half a mile of footpaths will also be restored as part of the project.
The 13-hectare area, roughly the size of 20 football pitches, includes 20 farms and encompasses the landscape around Tidcombe and Foscombe, the Graftons, and Wiltshire's famous Wilton Windmill landmark. The grant was aimed at mitigating the visual impact of the electricity pylons.
Support for rare species and improved access
Rare and threatened species such as willow tits, dormice, and the Duke of Burgundy butterfly will also be supported through the project. Access to the countryside will be improved with new footpath gates and bridleway enhancements.
The North Wessex Downs National Landscape spans an area across Wiltshire, Hampshire, West Berkshire, and Oxfordshire, with 40 per cent of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty located in Wiltshire. Wiltshire Council serves as the host authority overseeing the work of the organisation.
Quotes from project leaders and council
Jemima Sellwood, project lead in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape team, said: "We are delighted to have the go-ahead for this important project. It will have a huge impact on the landscape within the North Wessex Downs, help with nature recovery, as well as benefitting more people to enjoy the health benefits of access to the countryside, and deliver on the new North Wessex Downs Management Plan for the next five years."
Belinda Bown, from the charity the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, said: "The Southern Streams Farmers group aims to enhance the local landscape, and this project provides an incredible opportunity to support biodiversity, access and environmental resilience across neighbouring farmland. We look forward to beginning the works and making a difference."
Cllr Paul Sample, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "This project is a significant step toward our long-term goals of boosting wildlife recovery, expanding tree canopy cover, and ensuring Wiltshire becomes a more resilient, climate-focussed county."
