Hungerford launches £1.5m fundraiser for new education and wildlife hub

This week marked the official launch of a funding appeal for a new nature and education reserve in Hungerford.

The Town and Manor of Hungerford has announced that fundraising can now begin for 40 acres of derelict former water meadows to be transformed into a space for public education and recreation.

The Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve is a 40-acre development aiming to bring life back to Hungerford’s wetlands.

Peter Joseph, trustee of the Town and Manor of Hungerford, said: “This new wetland project is going to be fantastic for the local community.

“We’re restoring what is a natural flood plain, generating a lot more biodiversity and protecting the town.

“I think it has both a local benefit and it’s going to have even wider appeal, potentially even national as it develops over time.”

With sufficient funding, it is hoped work will start on the site before the end of March 2026, in line with the bird nesting seasons.

The new reserve will feature an education and information centre, with acres of green space for people to relax, walk and observe nature.

The Town and Manor estimates the cost of this work to be around £1.5m, with £700,000 to be spent on the education centre and £800,000 on the wetlands.

Lord Benyon of Englefield is the patron of the new site, and spoke at the launch about how vital nature is for both our physical and mental health.

Situated just behind Charnham Park and the industrial estate, the current area is not in use and has historically very low levels of biodiversity.

It is hoped that the new development will increase levels of wildlife, local nature recovery, and biodiversity through the provision of new habitats for birds, mammals and reptiles.

Amenities will also include recreational wetlands areas, a tall herb community, as well as pond and river dipping areas.

Hungerford mayor Helen Simpson said: “I think this was a complete no-brainer, turning the land back to what it should be – as a legacy for everybody, nationally and locally, as well as what it will give back to our community– biodiversity net gain.

“To see all of the new species of birds and wildlife coming back, that you can visit for free, would be an incredible legacy to leave.

“The Town and Manor have worked extremely hard, but the hard work begins again with fundraising.”

Twenty-three of the 40 acres will be physically accessible to the public, with visual access to 17.

This is part of plans to lessen human interference with local wildlife, and the Town and Manor says it is aiming for minimum maintenance and management of the site.

After the first public consultation with Hungerford residents two years ago there was lots of enthusiasm and more than 300 people signed up to volunteer.

Education is one of the key principles of the planning and the hope is that schools from the local area will be able to visit and learn through activities onsite and in the education building.

Kate Edwards, trustee of the Town and Manor, has been speaking to children in local schools about the wetland and says the excitement is obvious as she constantly gets asked by the children when they can go and visit.

The six principles are accessibility for all, no costs for residents, no entry charge, open all day all year, education and minimum maintenance.

To be an easily accessible site, two footpaths will be available to the public; a circular path around the whole of the site, and an ‘access for all’ footpath with an accessible board-walk over a shorter route.

There will be new road access for vehicles and pedestrians from Charnham Park Road, and a new car park with 14 car spaces, two disabled spaces, two for electric charging, and space for minibuses.

The land was acquired by Hungerford Town and Manor in 2018, and after gaining full planning permission on the wetlands, it now can start planning for the physical development of the reserve.

Action for the River Kennet (ARK) has said it will be moving into the education centre once it is built.

The team has been supported by West Berkshire Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency, North Wessex Downs Natural Landscape, Hungerford Town Council, and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).