Ebdon Farm, a 44-hectare former dairy farm on the North Somerset Levels and Moors, is at significant risk from climate change. This three-year project will transform the nature-depleted site into a haven where wildlife and people can thrive.
We need to take transformative steps to boost nature’s recovery and support local farmers in this climate-vulnerable area.
Leah McNally, CEO of Avon Wildlife Trust
The new nature reserve will demonstrate the positive impact of nature recovery at scale. Natural processes will restore climate-resilient habitats and support vulnerable species including wading birds, wildfowl, bats and amphibians. The project will show how low-lying farmland can adapt to rising sea levels, flooding and drought.
The project will also:
- connect nearby protected landscapes along the River Banwell and the adjacent Severn Estuary, a wetland of international importance
- restore coastal floodplain grazing marsh
- create a mosaic of wetlands and grasslands
- retain water on site, improve water quality and reduce downstream flood risk
- create habitats and an inland refuge for birds from the Severn Estuary
Local people are at the heart of this project that will create an accessible community hub. An engagement programme will reconnect people with the area’s cultural and agricultural heritage through education, volunteering, outreach and access to nature.
Leah McNally, CEO of Avon Wildlife Trust, said: "This is amazing news for nature in North Somerset and for the communities that surround Ebdon Farm. We need to take transformative steps to boost nature’s recovery and support local farmers in this climate-vulnerable area.”
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