A visit to the Wendling Beck Project
CLA members embrace the rain during the Norfolk summer visit and AGM
Members of the Norfolk branch of the CLA have visited the Wendling Beck Project in Norfolk to hear about a 2000-acre habitat creation and nature restoration project which seeks to reconnect wildlife on a national scale.
Developed in collaboration with farmers, local authorities, Natural England, environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector, the Wendling Beck Project near Dereham aims to transform land use for environmental gain, whilst also building long-term business resilience and providing community benefit.
The project is multi-layered and phase one of the landscape transition has begun. This has seen 250 acres of degraded arable land become a patchwork of heath, meadows, scrub and woodland creation.
Historic maps are being used to help re-imagine the current land use, which will deliver the restoration of heathland, parkland, species-rich lowland meadow, lowland fen, wet woodland and rare chalk streams.
The visit formed part of the CLA’s Norfolk branch AGM. CLA Acting Regional Director Mark Riches said:
"Every year we aim to offer our members a chance to visit unique rural businesses as part of our AGMs and summer visits. The Wendling Beck Project certainly falls into that category and it has been fascinating to see how the changes in this land use are progressing."
