Mend the Gap | Enhancing areas of the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs that have been negatively impacted by electrification of the Great Western Railway.

The Mend the Gap programme is enhancing the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes that have been negatively impacted by the electrification of the Great Western Railway mainline around the Goring Gap.

Highlights of 2024 are:

Mitigation: 11,070 plants have been put in (2,204m), and 186 trees have been planted. On target to double this this year and largest stretch in South Stoke along the road.

Enhancement Projects

18 are complete
20 are in the delivery phase
16 are under development
and we have a further 59 leads

We hope that leads that are not funded by our initial funding will generate a pipeline of projects for the catchment hosts and two National Landscapes. We encourage all our projects to work with a range of funders to make the most of the opportunities that this money presents.

Further updates include:

258 Hectares of land are being enhanced
105 Landowners engaged in some way
Over 662 people have attended events

To continue this work we need to make contact with landowners and communities in the programme area. We are particularly seeking to identify and support nature recovery projects for wetland, chalk or arable habitats that will enhance and enrich the outstanding landscape that links the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs for wildlife, residents and visitors.

Holiday Season

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Mend the Gap programme so far. The office will be closed from Friday 13th December until the 6th January. If you are involved in the Mitigation planting please continue to communicate with Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group SE project managers. We wish you all a very happy holidays and look forward to talking with you in the new year.

Frosty Morning from Hartslock nature reserve

Hedge and Tree Planting contracts

Are you, or do you know a contractor who would like to tender for our tree and hedge planting taking place this winter, across the Chilterns?

To find out what is available please visit this page

Watch our video

Where does the programme operate?

The programme area covers the railway corridor along a 20km stretch of line between the outskirts of Reading and Didcot and 3km either side of the line.

About Mend the Gap