Windrush Floodplain Meadows & Wetlands – Restoration Progress and New Opportunities for Farmers

Our FiPL-funded Windrush Floodplain Meadows & Wetlands project has completed its second year of restoration, with further work planned for 2027 and new opportunities for farmers across the Windrush catchment to get involved.

Building on 15 hectares of floodplain meadow restoration last year, the latest work has included seeding and plug planting a further hectare of meadow on a Cluster member's farm. This was completed by Anna Field and her team at Glorious Cotswold Grasslands, just ahead of the recent storm. Design work is also underway for a new wetland on the River Dikler.

The project is a partnership between Glorious Cotswold Grasslands, FWAG South West, Cotswolds Rivers Trust and ourselves, working together to restore floodplain habitats and explore opportunities for wetland creation across the catchment.

Expanding the work in 2027

The project is set to grow considerably next year, with plans to restore a further 7.5 hectares of floodplain meadow and undertake three wetland creation feasibility studies.

We're now looking for suitable sites and farmers interested in exploring opportunities on their land.

Alongside this work, NECFC's Tom Hall will be developing a new strategy for the Windrush over the winter, identifying opportunities for connected habitats, river restoration, nature-based solutions and wider landscape improvements across the catchment.

Could your farm be involved?

If you farm in the Windrush catchment and have wet or low-lying fields, floodplain river frontage or existing meadows, we'd love to hear from you.

An initial farm visit is a no-obligation opportunity to explore whether your land could be suitable for future restoration or wetland creation work.

To find out more, contact:

Tom Hall – tom@cotswoldfarmers.org | 07774 347564

Oli Newman – oli@cotswoldfarmers.org | 07721 696854