Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve is an area of 16 hectares (40 acres) that is a being developed and restored as an ancient water meadow, situated next to the River Kennet.
Exciting News: Planning Approved!
The Town and Manor of Hungerford is pleased to share that they can officially start the Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve project!
Theyre happy to announce that West Berkshire Council has granted full planning consent for the stunning wetland landscape and its access, along with outline planning permission for the Education and Information Centre.
They are also excited to share that Rt Hon, The Lord Benyon of Englefield has kindly agreed to be their Patron.
In addition, West Berkshire Council has generously awarded this wonderful wetland project a £100,000 CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) grant, which will help them establish the necessary infrastructure for public access and the future development of their Education and Information Centre.
KENNET VALLEY Wetland Reserve
A beautiful chalk stream, just a pleasant walk away from Hungerford, the charming market town.
They’re excited to share that the charity Town & Manor of Hungerford has taken on the wonderful task of protecting and nurturing this wetland regeneration project.
Their mission is to create a vibrant wetland area teeming with biodiversity.
This project isn’t just a boon for the local community and visitors; it’s a gift to enhance the health and happiness of everyone, as well as the environment, for many generations to come.
They’re looking forward to reviving the local plant and wildlife, and over time, they expect to see a healthier environment as a result.
Wetlands are truly invaluable, and it’s heartwarming to see them recognised for the diverse habitats they support.
They also play a vital role in managing floods and combating climate change.
With the weather in Britain swinging between droughts and floods, it’s clear we need to boost our resilience.
The proposed wetland reserve for Hungerford spans a generous 40 acres, offering the perfect opportunity to create a beautiful blend of habitats such as lush wet woodlands, flourishing reed beds, tranquil scrapes, and serene lakes, not to mention charming damp grasslands.
They’re also planning to add a new access point from Charnham Park Road along with an Education and Information Centre.
Planning Approved
The Town and Manor of Hungerford is delighted to announce that the Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve project can begin!
West Berkshire Council has now granted full planning consent for the construction of the wetland landscape and its access, alongside outline planning permission for the Education and Information Centre.
We are also delighted to announce that Rt Hon, The Lord Benyon of Englefield has agreed to be our Patron.
He says: “Our environment is increasingly under threat. Through changing weather patterns we are now beginning to experience some of the more extreme results of climate change. To quote Tony Juniper, the Chair of Natural England: ‘First drought, then floods, Britain experiences harsh weather extremes nowadays, and it will only get worse with climate change. We must build our resilience. Fortunately, there’s a good way of doing that; restoring wetlands’.
In this regard I particularly welcome the initiative of the Town and Manor of Hungerford to restore some 40 acres of former water meadows in the Kennet Valley, and develop them as a wetland reserve. All of this does of course come at a cost, some £1.5 million, which the Town and Manor hope to raise through an Appeal. I am delighted to support this as its Patron, and would ask you to join me in supporting this most welcome initiative.”
West Berkshire Council has also awarded this exciting wetland project a £100,000 CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) grant that will go towards putting in place the necessary infrastructure to allow public access to the site and for the future development of the Education and Information Centre.
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