A NEW wetland nature reserve is being planned for Herefordshire, with £200,000 needed to make the plans a reality.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust launched the appeal to buy land at Oak Tree Farm which lies below Dinmore Hill, south of Leominster, as they aim to improve the wildlife in the Lugg Valley.

The 30-acre grassland site has potential to be a habitat for wetland wildlife, but the Trust said it will also act as a stepping stone for wildlife as it lies near the river Lugg between Bodenham Lake Nature Reserve to the east and Wellington Gravel Pits to the south.

Currently, the grassland site includes an ephemeral pool beside the river and a natural spring, but the Trust plans to enhance these features as well as creating shallow pools and areas of reedbed.

They also plan to establish areas of wet grassland close to the river and restore the meadows on drier land, bringing back wildflowers, bees and butterflies.

The Trust’s Lugg Living Landscape project officer Sophie Cowling said: “Herefordshire Wildlife Trust have been working to improve the Lugg Valley for wildlife since 2015.

"We’ve worked with over 60 farmers to improve wildlife habitats and reduce pollution and have completed many improvements on the nature reserves in the valley such as Bodenham Lake and Lugg Meadows.

"This incredibly exciting project will see the Lugg Valley established as a flagship area for wetland wildlife within Herefordshire and the Marches region.

"Public support to achieve this vision is vital – please donate today and be a part of creating a wilder Herefordshire.”

The Trust aims to raise a total of £200,000 and have already raised more than £107,000 through grants and public donations.

For more information visit herefordshirewt.org/oaktreefarm