After what feels like one of the wettest winters in years, Bristol Water is making sure the landscape around Chew Valley Lake makes the most of the rain.
600 metres of new native hedgerow is being planted at Chew Stoke Pumping Station in partnership with CPRE The Countryside Charity. It's turning soggy ground into something that benefits wildlife, people and the working site for years to come.
The hedge is being planted alongside a wildflower meadow, connecting existing woodland to create a new wildlife corridor. For insects, birds and bats, it means more shelter, food and safe routes through the landscape. For volunteers from CPRE and Bristol Water, it means very muddy boots, fresh air and the quiet satisfaction of doing something long-lasting after this winter is forgotten.
Around 80 metres of hedgerow were planted during the first session, with more dates planned through the winter.
Kirsty Dunford, Conservation, Access and Recreations Manager at Bristol Water, said: “After the amount of rain we’ve had recently, it feels like the perfect moment to give nature a helping hand. Hedgerows do an incredible amount of work, supporting wildlife, managing water and shaping the landscape, and this one will do all that while also making the site safer.”
As well as boosting biodiversity, the new hedge has a practical purpose. Once established, it will help guide people away from sensitive operational areas at the pumping station, improving health and safety while blending naturally into the surroundings.
The Chew Stoke planting forms part of CPRE’s Hedgerow Heroes campaign, which aims to protect and restore hedgerows across England.
No experience is needed to take part in the remaining sessions. Training, tools and guidance are provided by CPRE, enthusiasm, warm layers and waterproofs are optional but recommended!
