Ecological surveys and scoping work for Pangbourne Meadows

Pangbourne Parish Council is to receive funding from Mend the Gap to support the first stage in their ambition to develop a new management plan for Pangbourne Meadows, an area covering nearly 10 hectares of  important riverside habitat.

The project will see comprehensive ecological surveys done, to help the council understand the current biodiversity status of the Meadows and identify areas for improvement. This work will be crucial in ensuring that any future management plan is focused on maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of the Meadows, as well as its natural beauty.

The project will also identify and evaluate possible options to sensitively improve inclusive access to the site, particularly through the wet areas of the Thames Path, and potential ways to educate visitors about the site’s special characteristics and its place within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Central to the project is engaging stakeholders and the community to listen to their feedback and suggestions, and this will be carried out through a variety of methods including public consultation events.

This work will then inform the next stage of the Council’s plans for delivery of a management plan for this special site.