Over a 4 or 5 year period, waterlogging on the site has become increasingly problematic. It’s a problem across the lower part of the site, but most pronounced in a row of four plots that sit between a medieval well and the valley of the River Sherbourne. We *think* the water table has been getting higher outside of the allotments too, because a huge and magnificent copper beech that sat in a nearby garden was finally felled early in 2023 after several years of looking more and more sickly.

These four plots have been gradually abandoned as people’s vegetables have rotted in the soil, or their backs have given way to trying to dig such heavy soil, and the willows have moved in…

Actually, this bit of land is, as it wilds itself, becoming more and more beautiful. We know we have to balance food production (which is, after all, what this land is designated for) and the equally needed wetland wildlife habitat.

Our climate adaptation project aims to reclaim part of the land for vegetable growing (using a mix of raised beds and permaculture/food forest techniques) and to gently steer/manage the remainder as wetland meadow/wildlife habitat.

The first step is to consult hydrology and wildlife experts to sense-check our plans and get some advice on how best to manage both the groundwater and the wetland meadow.