Hasfield Estate, Severn Hams Nature Recovery Zone, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom
Ongoing implementation
Local level
A partnership led by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will create 43 hectares of semi-natural habitats—wood pasture, species-rich grassland and traditional orchards—across the Hasfield Estate. The project aims to demonstrate how habitat restoration within a farmed landscape can sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases, strengthen ecological connectivity and resilience, and generate sustainable business and community benefits.
The Estate sits within a strategically important Nature Recovery Zone and neighbours a DEFRA Landscape Recovery Scheme project called Eelscapes. Semi-natural habitats in this part of the Severn Vale have been widely lost. Species-rich grassland now covers only 1% of the UK after a 97% decline (1930–1984). The project responds by reinstating habitat mosaics with high carbon and biodiversity value that can function alongside productive agriculture. It also seeks to create investable, nature-positive land uses and community engagement opportunities.
The project will create a 43-hectare habitat mosaic across the Hasfield Estate: 23.4 ha of lowland wood pasture (tree-grass-scrub systems with ongoing grazing), 12.6 ha of species-rich grassland (managed by traditional cutting/grazing), and 6.8 ha of traditional orchards (widely spaced fruit/nut trees over permanent grassland). Locations were chosen to connect existing priority habitats and reflect historic land use. The interventions are designed to sequester carbon, regulate water, bolster biodiversity and climate resilience, and fit within an active farm business.
Species-rich grassland (12.6 ha) will be established in three field parcels to reconnect remnant fragments and form open-habitat mosaics with adjacent woodland. Managed through traditional cutting and grazing to build native wildflower/sedge cover and keep white clover/perennial rye cover under 10%. Anticipated benefits include increased soil carbon and nitrogen storage, water retention, biological pest control, and a diverse nectar resource supporting invertebrates that feed birds and mammals.
Lowland wood pasture (23.4 ha) will be reinstated across five parcels where mapping indicates historic in-field trees. The design delivers an open matrix of trees, scrub and pasture compatible with grazing. Expected outcomes include higher soil organic carbon following conversion from pasture to agroforestry-like systems, reduced flooding and topsoil erosion, shade and heat-stress mitigation for livestock, and richer communities of bats, birds, invertebrates, lichens and fungi. Old/veteran trees will ultimately act as significant carbon stores and microhabitats.
Traditional orchards (6.8 ha) will be sited where the 1903 Ordnance Survey maps show former orchards. Widely spaced fruit/nut trees over permanent grassland (grazed or cut for hay) will rebuild a fine-grained mosaic with hedgerows, scrub and deadwood. Anticipated benefits include carbon sequestration (evidence elsewhere), flood and erosion buffering, localised climate regulation, groundwater capture, water quality gains, and strong cultural value. Orchards will provide foraging, breeding and hibernation sites for bats, birds and reptiles and help safeguard >100 apple and >120 perry varieties unique to Gloucestershire.
Information not available yet.
