The UK government is dedicated to protecting 30 percent of land and sea for nature by 2030, a commitment known as 30by30, which aligns with the global 30×30 initiative established at the UN Biodiversity Summit in 2022. Achieving the UK’s 30by30 target on land in England demands immediate and impactful actions to foster nature’s recovery. It is essential that our most vital and wildlife-rich habitats receive effective and long-term conservation and management. This initiative includes not only the preservation of existing habitats but also the creation and restoration of new ones through ongoing projects, while addressing broader priorities such as ensuring cleaner rivers and protecting communities from flooding risks.
In 2025, we partnered with the Environment Agency and landowners in Belchford on the River Waring to design initiatives focused on enhancing the chalk stream and its surrounding floodplain. Collaborating with the team at Five Rivers, we developed comprehensive plans to install multiple swales throughout the project area, improve and expand an existing pond, introduce woody materials to the stream, and reinforce sections of the heavily eroded riverbank. In the winter of 2026, we were pleased to welcome the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service into our partnership, which played a crucial role in the first phase of project implementation, supported by Defra’s 30×30 funding. During this initial phase, we cleared a densely vegetated area to ensure site access and successfully installed five swales incorporating woody materials and plants. Looking ahead, we plan to conduct surveys of the chalk stream for water voles and perform environmental DNA assessments of the pond for great crested newts, enabling us to finalize the remaining designs.
