Mitigation Projects
Mitigation planting to screen and distract from the rail gantries and electrification equipment
What is a Mitigation Project?
Most mitigation projects take the form of tree planting and/or hedgerow restoration. They reduce the harm done to the National Landscapes by the electrification of the Great Western mainline, by screening, masking, distracting from or breaking up views of the gantries and other electrification equipment.
So far the Mend the Gap programme has planted nearly 2,000m of hedgerow and specimen trees around South Stoke and Goring, collaborating with more than 10 different landowners to do so. The programme is now planning for planting in the area from Cholsey to Didcot in the winter of 2024, and will finally focus its efforts in the Moulsford to Purley area.
As well as screening/masking the electrification equipment, these projects are bringing about wider benefits including biodiversity enhancements, creation of new habitat, connecting wildlife corridors, supporting nature recovery, and building resilience to pressures such as ash dieback and climate change.
Mitigation projects are primarily taking place on private land but the benefits should be available from locations or viewpoints that are publicly accessible (i.e. from footpaths, roads, bridleways, rivers etc) so that the benefits of the project are available to the wider public.
All mitigation projects must be appropriate in terms of species and habitats, and compatible with the character of the National Landscapes.
What will Mend the Gap pay for?
Mend the Gap can contribute towards the costs of:
- Design of mitigation planting schemes
- Implementation of those planting schemes (including site preparation, purchase of plants and materials, on-site works including tree planting/hedgerow restoration)
- Follow up maintenance of newly planted trees
Research has been undertaken to priority identify locations where tree planting and hedgerow restoration will have the greatest benefits in reducing the visual impact of the gantries.
How can I find out more?
If you feel you have been impacted by the gantries, or if you own or manage a site that you would like us to consider for mitigation planting, please email the programme team at mendthegap@chilterns.org.uk
Our journey so far
To find out where we have been planting so far, please visit our case studies page here.
