In 2021 Norfolk Wildlife Trust secured funding from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund for its 18-month Claylands Wilder Connections Project. The project ran from October 2021 to March 2023.
This exciting project aimed to support communities in efforts to improve connectivity of habitats across key parts of South Norfolk. Its focus was on the fabric of the countryside, including hedgerows, ponds, copses, trees and meadows. We worked with local communities and landowners to identify and deliver relevant projects on the ground with the aim of improving habitat connections for wildlife, while increasing biodiversity and resilience to climate change within the existing landscape.
Key to delivering the ambitions of the Claylands Wilder Connections project was working with those with land assets across the target hubs. This involved farmers and landowners, parish councils, community groups, schools and other individuals and organisations. The project explored how we can best support informed decision making and implementation of best practice management through the provision of data, resources and training. The project also had a significant budget for facilitating delivery of improvements on the ground including for example: restoration and creation of ponds; hedgerow gapping-up and new planting; establishing new woodland areas; and enhancing or creating floristically diverse buffers, margins and meadows.