Hungerford’s Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve gets the go-ahead

PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for the Town and Manor of Hungerford’s Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve project.

That means work can now begin on the wetland landscape and its access, plus the Education and Information Centre.

Meanwhile the charity has announced that former Newbury MP Lord Benton of Englefield has agreed to become the project’s patron.

Lord Benyon, former under secretary of state for natural environment, water and rural affairs, said: “Our environment is increasingly under threat.

“Through changing weather patterns we are now beginning to experience some of the more extreme results of climate change.

“To quote [Natural England chairman] Tony Juniper: ‘First drought, then floods; Britain experiences harsh weather extremes nowadays, and it will only get worse with climate change.

“‘We must build our resilience.

“‘Fortunately, there’s a good way of doing that – restoring wetlands.’

“In this regard I particularly welcome the initiative of the Town and Manor of Hungerford to restore some 40 acres of former water meadows in the Kennet Valley, and develop them as a wetland reserve.

“All of this does of course come at a cost, some £1.5m, which the Town and Manor hope to raise through an appeal.

“I am delighted to support this as its patron, and would ask you to join me in supporting this most welcome initiative.”

West Berkshire Council has also awarded the wetland project a £100,000 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) grant that will go towards putting in place the necessary infrastructure to allow public access to the site and for the future development of the Education and Information Centre.

Constable of the Town and Manor Philip Porter said: “We’re truly delighted and excited about our wetland project.

“The overwhelming support we have received from the residents of Hungerford and the wider community in the Kennet Valley, from our patron Lord Benyon, from Hungerford Town Council, and West Berkshire Council, and the many countryside agencies, has been most welcome.

“We now have some work to do on further detailed designs and to meet various administrative requirements before we start development on site.

“Getting started on shaping the wetland landscape and putting the infrastructure in place has been much anticipated – watch this space!”

For more information about the project, visit https://townandmanor.co.uk/wetland-reserve