Action for the River Kennet (ARK) are working with Sulham Estate in West Berkshire on an ambitious habitat restoration programme across 130 hectares of former arable land. Our part in the project is to bring an arable field, which regularly floods, back to a natural wetland state, changing the ecology and wildlife by digging a series of cells at graduated levels so that the water can be retained throughout the year. The mix of seasonal water levels is expected to significantly increase the biodiversity of this field, as well as contributing to reduction in local flood risk by creating safe spaces to store water.

Work began in August 2024, and although designed to be seasonal the deepest excavations at the western end of the site were already holding water.

This exciting ARK project is part of the Partnerships for Nature programme, led by North Wessex Downs National Landscape funded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)'s Species Survival Fund and Mend the Gap.