The scheme in Gilling East has been given funding of £88,000 from local government schemes offered by the Howardian Hills National Landscape and Ryevitalise. The proposed wetlands will be made up of two larger lakes and several smaller ponds dotted between, spanning over one kilometre of land at Lodgefield Farm; home to Lindsay and Sarah McLane for more than 50 years. The project will incorporate new fencing and around a kilometre of mixed hedging being reinstated - working towards the farm’s plans to become a fully regenerative operation.
Lindsay said: “Still a working farm of livestock and sheep, we have worked with the AONB and Ryevitalise over an extended period to create a diverse and nature friendly farmed environment. The land along the Holbeck has become more prone to flooding due to the increased frequency of extreme weather events and so the wetlands have been designed to alleviate flooding risk of properties and land downstream, along the River Rye and beyond." The project is being led and backed by business owner Richard McLane of local firm, Bisca which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024.
This project follows numerous other local environmental initiatives supported by Bisca’s shareholders, including a large solar panel installation; hedgelaying and nature restoration events; the planting of two new woodland areas; a mixed fruit tree orchard; and reinstating over 2km of native mixed hedgerows. As well as reducing flood risk and the potential for conser.