Mend the Gap is enhancing areas of the Goring Gap that have been negatively impacted by the electrification of the Great Western Railway.

The programme is run jointly by the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes, with involvement from the Railway Action Group (a group derived from the local community to protest the design of the gantries used in the electrification).

Highlights so far (to November 2024)

Mitigation

Project managed by Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South East (FWAGSE).

• 11,070 plants and 186 trees planted.
• 1,307m of fencing installed.
• Planting to date has been in and around South Stoke and Goring/Gatehampton/Lower Basildon.
• It is anticipated that this season’s planting will double the total seen in the past two years.
• In terms of expenditure relative to the £750k Mitigation Fund, this is on target to reach about 70% of the proposed sites by April 2025. See more on our Mitigation page.

Enhancement 

There are 120 projects in the ‘funnel’, including 18 complete, 20 in the delivery phase (find out more) and 16 in development.

These cover the themes of Nature and Biodiversity, Knowledge, Access and Enjoyment, Landscape, Heritage, and Tourism.

• 258 hectares of land being enhanced.
• 105  landowners engaged.
• 662 people attending events.
• 332 people engaged in activities linked to health and wellbeing.
• 135 partnerships from our projects.
• 60 partnerships where we are a supporting partner.

Wetland or wetland access projects funded in the area to date include Withymead Nature Reserve, Cholsey Marshes, Sulham Wetland, Cleeve Meadow and the Englefield River Pang, with potential funding identified for South Stoke Lower and Upper Marshes, Pangbourne Meadow, Mill Brook and Cholsey Brook areas.

Chalkland projects include the Rectory Farm Grassland Restoration and a suite of plant surveys with local landowners to improve grassland and woodland management.

These projects have been developed with landowners and other specialist partners, including most of the parish councils and schools in the area, the Environment Agency, Action for the River Kennet (ARK) and Thames 21.

In terms of cost relative to the £3m Enhancement Fund, projects carried in the funnel amount to about 77% on an un-risked basis and just under 50% on a risked basis (NB – these figures do not include immature leads).