The UK is one of almost 200 nations to sign up to the international 30by30 target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. The Wye Valley National Landscape team, with our partners, are making steps towards the 30by30 milestone using nature-based solutions to protect landscapes, wildlife and communities.
Restored wildflower meadows and leaky dams might sound like a ‘nice to have’, but they provide services that would otherwise cost the UK around £300 billion. Nature is critical national infrastructure and the more we invest in it, the more resilient the country will be.
With our partners, we have been working on nature-based solutions to protect landscapes, wildlife and communities in the Wye Valley National Landscape. Restored wildflower meadows and leaky woody structures might sound like a ‘nice to have’, but they provide services that would otherwise cost the UK around £300 billion. Nature is critical national infrastructure and the more we invest in it, the more resilient the country will be.
Case Study – The Grange: restoring nature for a more resilient future
At The Grange, a smallholding in the Wye Valley National Landscape near Ross-on-Wye, a simple but carefully designed nature restoration project is delivering benefits for wildlife, farming, and the wider community. Working in partnership, the Wye Valley National Landscape team has supported the installation of five leaky woody structures along the Luke Brook and the restoration of 0.5 hectares of species-rich meadow. The project has been funded by the National Grid’s Landscape Enhancement Initiative, with match funding from the Environment Agency’s Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF). Just over £13,000 has been spent so far, with a further three new ponds being created this summer.
The Grange
The Grange is a 6.5 ha smallholding owned by Jim and Esther Rawlinson, both veterinary surgeons, who are passionate about managing their land for nature. The holding comprises a mixture of grazing pastures, hay meadows and steeper, scrubby grassland, alongside a low-lying floodplain bordering the Luke Brook. This wetter area floods regularly and has been allowed to develop naturally, creating valuable wet grassland habitat for wildlife.
The Wye Valley National Landscape team, in partnership with Herefordshire Meadows, have worked with Jim and Esther, offering guidance and support to create a suitable project which runs over 6 years in total – 3 years for the delivery work and 3 years for ongoing management of the restored habitat.
Slowing the flow
The Luke Brook is a small tributary of the River Wye which flows through The Grange and responds quickly during heavy rainfall. Five leaky woody structures have been installed using natural timber to gently slow the movement of water through the catchment. Rather than stopping the flow, these structures temporarily hold back water during periods of high rainfall, allowing it to spread naturally across the landscape before gradually continuing downstream.
By slowing water at its source, leaky woody structures can help reduce peak flows, improve flood resilience downstream and create valuable wet habitats for insects and other wildlife. The project also helps trap sediment and improve water quality by reducing erosion within the brook. Since the leaky dams have been installed camera traps have revealed that otters have been visiting the site, a lovely win for nature!
Restoring a meadow for pollinators
Alongside the natural flood management work, a species-rich meadow has been restored to provide an important habitat for pollinating insects and other wildlife, with Herefordshire Meadows coordinating the work and sourcing seed from a nearby species-rich grassland.
Healthy populations of bees, butterflies and other pollinators are essential for food production, with many crops relying on insect pollination. Restoring flower-rich grassland provides nectar and pollen throughout the growing season while increasing biodiversity and creating a more resilient farmed landscape.
Working together for nature
Projects like this are only possible through the commitment of farmers and landowners who are willing to work with nature. Jim and Esther have embraced opportunities to enhance their land, recognising that healthy ecosystems support both productive farming and thriving wildlife, as they put it:
“Farming and associated development has had a significant impact on nature and biodiversity in our area. This was our opportunity to do something positive to help restore the balance.
We hope the leaky woody structures will extend the area of our water meadow, making it more resilient during dry spells, while the meadow restoration improves the diversity of flowering plants and supports more insects and birds.
Farmers and landowners have a real opportunity to help nature recover while also sharing in the benefits. I’d encourage anyone considering similar work to speak to, or visit, someone who has already done it. Seeing it first-hand helps you understand what’s involved and work around any potential challenges.”
Achieving 30by30
The Grange is an excellent example of how practical, locally led action can contribute towards national ambitions such as protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030. The Grange demonstrates how, by combining natural flood management with habitat restoration, multiple benefits for people, wildlife and the environment can be delivered, while helping build resilience to a changing climate.