Home / Environment / Farms Paid to Boost Wildlife & Cut Flooding
Farms Paid to Boost Wildlife & Cut Flooding
11 May
Summary
- Over 50 farms are restoring 3,000 hectares of Cotswold farmland.
- Investors back the £100m scheme for flood protection.
- The project reconnects floodplains and restores rivers.
A pioneering £100 million environmental project is now compensating farmers for their crucial work in transforming the Cotswold countryside. The Evenlode Landscape Recovery Project involves more than 50 farms, collectively restoring 3,000 hectares of valuable farmland.
This initiative is attracting investment from entities such as Network Rail, SSEN, and Oxfordshire County Council. These investors anticipate that the project's efforts in flood prevention will offer enhanced protection to vital infrastructure, including roads and rail lines. The scheme is designed to be replicable and scalable, offering a significant model for future environmental recovery efforts.
The 20-year plan focuses on reconnecting floodplains and revitalizing key rivers, including the Evenlode, Glyme, and Dorn. Early successes include rerouting the Chipping Norton Brook, which has created diverse habitats for invertebrates and fish, while also improving water quality by trapping sediments.
Electricity supplier SSEN views the project as a cost-effective alternative to building its own flood defenses for infrastructure like the Lyneham substation. Alan Lovell, chairman of the Environment Agency, expressed optimism about the project's potential to significantly benefit the local area by promoting nature recovery and biodiversity, while ensuring farmers can continue food production.
