Wyescapes Landscape Recovery area extended

Thursday 6 March 2025 4.51pm

Defra has approved a land area expansion for the Wyescapes Landscape Recovery Project. This brings the total project area to 5125 hectares. Thanks to strong support from local farmers, the project’s ambition of restoring river corridors of the Wye and Lugg in Herefordshire has been strengthened and project land now encompasses 80 kilometres of riverbank.

Wyescapes will progress based on the collaboration of 49 Herefordshire landholdings – including 13 farms that are new to the project. Working together over the long-term, they will boost biodiversity across a rich mosaic of restored habitats, improve river health, and naturally reduce the impact of floods and drought, whilst sustainably producing high quality food. The project is also exploring opportunities to enhance public access to parts of the project land.

Since the project began in April 2024, the response from local farmers and land managers has in fact been so positive that potential land exceeds the capacity of the project’s fixed time and budget in this development phase. A further 2000 hectares has therefore been registered on a waiting list, ready for ecological surveying and developing detailed site-specific land plans when more funding can be secured.

Kate Speke-Adams, Director, Herefordshire Rural Hub commented:
“We are excited to be able to include even more land in the development phase of Wyescapes and support more land managers to develop sustainable, future-proof business models working with nature along the floodplain. We have been overwhelmed with interest and already have a further 2000 hectares on the next waiting list which reflects the willingness and commitment of local farmers to manage our landscapes differently over the long-term. Change at this scale can bring significant benefits for our rivers, farm businesses, local communities and the county’s economy.”

Max Eckert, Programme Manager at Herefordshire Rural Hub, said:
“The severe flooding this autumn and winter underscores the growing challenges of farming alongside the river in an increasingly volatile climate. Wyescapes offers a rare opportunity to drive long-term change and enhance climate resilience, nature recovery, and farm viability. We encourage the local community to share their views.”

Esther Rudge of Ballingham Court, commented:
“Getting feedback from our neighbours and all those who share our love for the countryside we look after, is really important to us. Farms are at the heart of rural communities in Herefordshire, and this project creates exciting opportunities, such as enhancing public access to project land and creating new ways for us to enjoy and work with a restored landscape, full of life!”

Wyescapes is led by Herefordshire Rural Hub in partnership with partners Herefordshire Meadows, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, and The Wye and Usk Foundation.

The project which would last until at least 2046, is currently in a development phase funded by Defra.

Wyescapes has launched a public survey to hear from those living and working near the Wye and Lugg between Leominster and Symonds Yat, and all stakeholders with an interest in these rivers and the adjacent countryside. To have your say, complete the anonymous survey at https://herefordshireruralhub.co.uk/wyescapes-survey/

Those with additional accessibility needs to complete the survey can contact jennie@herefordshireruralhub.co.uk or leave a message on 01432 268428, if they require a more accessible survey option.