Oak Tree Farm is a 30-acre site comprised of pasture and meadow. It lies directly below Dinmore Hill and slopes down to the River Lugg which forms its southern border. In the winter, an ephemeral pool emerges beside the river and there is also a natural spring on the land. These are all great features for wildlife and mean that the site is perfect for further enhancement. The location means the reserve will also be a stepping stone for wetland wildlife between Bodenham Lake nature reserve and Wellington Gravel Pits, two of the most important county sites for wetland birds and will improve connectivity between a wetland complex of more than 20 lakes within the Lugg Valley.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust purchased the site in September 2020 following a successful fundraising appeal and earlier this year the site was chosen to receive funding from National Highways as part of their Network for Nature programme which aims to restore nature by joining up vital places for wildlife to help counter the damaging impacts of previous road building.  

This month, diggers have arrived at the site to begin scraping out areas to create a series of pools as well as shallows where reedbed, an important and rare wildlife habitat, can then be planted. This follows two years of survey work to establish exactly where to locate the various wetland features before designs were created by wetland creation specialists 35 Percent.

Claire Spicer, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Projects Officer says:

“It is so exciting for work to start after all our planning and to see the designs take shape on the ground. We’ve been restoring wetland features and protecting the river in the Lugg Valley, both on our own sites and by working with landowners, since 2015. Creating another wetland for wildlife at this site is another step forward. We are hoping the reserve will be open to the public by this time next year and can’t wait to see what new species start to call this special place home once the work is complete. Hopefully wetland birds such as curlew, lapwing and oystercatcher will be common to see here in the future.”

In the spring, after the landscaping has been completed, the Trust will begin spreading locally collected seed to introduce lost wildflower species into the meadows. They will also be planting small wetland plants into the pools and scrapes to enhance the site biodiversity.