Nature Recovery at Pangbourne Meadows
Pangbourne Parish Council continues to restore areas of Pangbourne Meadows for nature.
The Council initially received 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, which is a relatively rare floodplain meadow. The project saw comprehensive ecological surveys done, to help the council understand the current biodiversity status of the Meadows and identify areas for improvement. This work was crucial in ensuring that the new management plan is focused on maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of the Meadows, as well as its natural beauty.
The project continues in 2026
In 2026, Pangbourne Parish Council has further funding to improve the meadows and the mosaic of habitats for a range of wildlife including, plants, invertebrates and bats. Areas of grass are being allowed to grow taller. A local farmer who is an expert on this type of meadow is carefully cutting and removing the hay, which removes nutrients from the quick-growing grasses and allows the less dominant flowers and grasses to develop. After a successful early cut in January, wildflower species are already beginning to return.
There will be additional tree planting to screen the railway gantries, and interpretation boards to celebrate the meadow’s special characteristics and its place within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Volunteering opportunities will also be available.
Pangbourne Meadows