NATIONAL Highways has teamed up with a Herefordshire group to launch a new project that should benefit the area.
It is working with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust on Network for Nature programme, a new project that will improve habitats across the Lower Lugg Valley in Herefordshire, benefitting people, nature, and wildlife.
It will improve connectivity between more than 20 lakes alongside the A49.
The project will see new wetland created at Oak Tree Farm in the Lugg Valley in Herefordshire, which will provide food and nesting habitat for threatened lapwing and curlew.
RELATED NEWS:
- 'Big decision' on planned Herefordshire solar farm
- Lane closure on Herefordshire motorway to cause delays
- Herefordshire couple still in caravan despite eviction bid
The location means the reserve will also be a steppingstone for wetland wildlife between Bodenham Lake nature reserve and Wellington Gravel Pits, two of the most important county sites for wetland birds.
Sustainable, natural drainage created next to an A49 outfall, will allow filter excess water running from the nearby road network, reducing pollution before the water enters the River Lugg SSSI.
Stephen Elderkin, environmental sustainability division lead for National Highways, said: "We're committed to significantly improving biodiversity near our road network, and the projects set out by The Wildlife Trusts will be a vital step in putting the strategic road network at the heart of nature's recovery."
In England, the roadside estate is vast and yet is adjacent to some of our most precious habitats.
When situated alongside straight roads, such as motorways, habitats can create crucial corridors for pollinating insects, birds, and small mammals, enabling wildlife to move through the wider landscape.
OTHER NEWS:
- Pub landlord hit customer with a baseball bat in unpaid tab row
- Herefordshire man escapes roads ban over fears for in-laws
- This Herefordshire school is changing how students do prom
Nikki Robinson, network for nature programme manager for The Wildlife Trusts said:
"We are very pleased that National Highways is committed to Network for Nature, with a strategic approach to restoring nature and joining up vital places for wildlife to help counter the damaging impacts of previous road building.
"Historic road building programmes have contributed to nature's decline, fragmenting wild spaces, and causing environmental pollution.
"This programme will help Wildlife Trusts throughout England carry out important nature conservation work, and contribute to a national nature recovery network, connecting town and countryside, and joining up vital places for wildlife, and promoting landscape scale connectivity."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here