Work on £1.5m nature reserve to start next month

Image source, Town and Manor of Hungerford Image caption, The project has been supported by the local community, the charity said

A £1.5m project to build a new nature reserve for a town on poor quality, unmanaged meadows will start next month.

The Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve will be constructed on about 16 hectares (40 acres) of land at Undy's Meadow, on the northern edge of Hungerford and close to the River Kennet.

The Town and Manor of Hungerford, the charity that organises its Tutti Day celebrations , is behind the plan.

Kate Edwards, from the charity, said the nature reserve will be a "very special thing".

"It's going to be a proper nature reserve; it will be somewhere you can go and sit quietly," she said.

"The focus is the wildlife and we're going to be privileged enough hopefully to sit on the benches, walk the paths and see and hear the willow warblers and the grasshopper warblers. Hopefully lots of wetland birds will come in and use the area."

She said the community has given the plan the "most incredible support" and that construction work must be carried out between September and December.

It must not be done before September because of nesting birds but cannot be done after December because the ground would be too wet.

The first stage of work, including a landscape, paths and boardwalks, is expected to be in place by next summer.

Contact form Contact form Related topics Berkshire Hungerford Wildlife conservation Wildlife Conservation Wetlands Environment Nature Related internet links Town and Mayor of Hungerford