THE Church Commissioners have signed a tenancy agreement with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, which plans to to create a nature reserve on Bartonsham Meadows, in Hereford, it was announced on Monday.
The Trust plans to plant grass and wildflowers on the 100-acre site on the banks of the River Wye. It will restore ancient hedgerows, reintroduce cattle grazing, and allow for seasonal flooding, while helping to protect the city from flooding. It also plans to restore footpaths to improve public access.
The site has been owned by the Commissioners since the 1850s, and had previously been used for cattle grazing. A senior asset manager at the Commissioners, Guy Webb, said that the plans would also “help meet our net zero aspirations in a way that suits this particular property perfectly”.