Paddle UK have been awarded Farming in Protected Landscapes funding to improve the habitat at our land in Hoarwithy.
Toll Paddock, Hoarwithy, is located alongside the banks of the River Wye, Herefordshire. The site lies within Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is designated a Special Area of Conservation.
The project will restore 0.9ha of floodplain meadow using local seed. New infrastructure will also enable grazing on the floodplain meadow to support the habitat creation works.
The planting of 100 willow whips will help stabilise a section of river bank depleted of vegetation and at risk of erosion.
A 90m new length of hedgerow planted up with native species will improve the habitat.
We would love help to deliver the improvements.
The volunteering event will take place on Wednesday 27 March at Toll Paddock, Hoarwithy, between 10am and 3pm.
Chantelle Grundy, access and environment lead, said:
“We're delighted to be supported with Farming In Protected Landscape Programme Funding and are really looking forward to starting our habitat improvements at Toll Paddock.
“We'd love the paddling community to come along to one of our volunteer days to help restore and improve this special habitat.”
Rory Johnson, director and meadows adviser, Herefordshire Meadows, said about 98% of England's species rich floodplain meadows have been lost in the last 150 years.
Rory said: “The 1840 tithe maps shows the British Canoeing [Now Paddle UK] landholding in Hoarwithy as having been a historic floodplain meadow.
“We will be taking proactive steps this year, with the support of Herefordshire Meadows and the Wye Valley National Landscape, to restore this former habitat and create these many benefits.”