Volunteers get busy planting trees at Cow Ark. Pic: Ribble Rivers Trust.

A network of new wetlands, wader scrapes, hedgerows and woodlands has transformed land in the Ribble Valley as part of a major restoration project led by Ribble Rivers Trust and local landowners.



The initiative at Cow Ark, which is near the iconic Inn at Whitewell pub in the Forest of Bowland, aims to restore nature, improve water management and strengthen resilience to climate change.

The works mean wetlands and wader scrapes (small pools in fields) now hold water for longer, providing vital feeding grounds for wading birds and homes for amphibians and invertebrates. Newly planted hedgerows link up existing habitats, giving cover and nesting opportunities for birds and small mammals, while woodland areas provide shade, stabilise soils, and capture carbon.

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The landowner has also embraced wildlife-friendly practices by installing dead hedges and log piles for insects, reptiles, and small mammals, and adjusting grassland management to encourage wildflowers and pollinator species.

Just a few months ago, the charity claims the area was low-quality grassland which has now been replaced with wetlands, woodland and hedgerows. And although the major works are complete, further enhancements are planned, including wetland plug planting to increase biodiversity.

The project was funded by the Species Survival Fund, a £25 million initiative administered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of Defra. Ribble Rivers Trust has secured £1.65 million from the fund to drive nature recovery across the Ribble catchment, working with farmers, landowners and conservation partners to restore more than 3,300 hectares of vital habitat.

Ribble Rivers Trust is a local environmental charity established in 1997 to protect and restore the rivers, streams and watercourses within the Ribble catchment and to raise public awareness of the value of our local rivers and streams.

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