Former farmland to be restored to boost wildlife

A 70-acre site near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire is set to be transformed from farmland back into an orchard and wildlife area. The project, lasting 30 years, will be carried out by landowners Naturum on a 28-hectare plot at Pipers Hill. The initiative aims to enhance existing grassland with wildflower and herb seed mixes, providing a boost for native British species like brown hares, hedgehogs, great crested newts, common toads, and the Small Heath butterfly.

The project will also restore a traditional orchard that was lost over a century ago. The restored land will be situated within a wildlife corridor adjacent to Highpark Wood, an ancient woodland, and the Great Gaddesden Water Meadows, which are home to a rare chalk stream, otters, and water voles. The farming family that has farmed the land for nearly 80 years will continue as long-term land managers, while local children will be able to visit the restored area.

The project is part of the Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which aims to recover woodland, scrub, and grassland in the region. The restoration is hoped to alleviate pressure on the River Gade, a chalk stream that has been stressed by modern farming practices.