Project working to restore the Fal catchment area with innovative source-to-sea initiative

ENVIRONMENT COLUMN, CO-ORDINATED BY THE CORNWALL NATIONAL LANDSCAPE TEAM

- by CORNWALL COUNCIL'S NATURE RECOVERY TEAM

THE Fal Rivers to Reef project is working to restore the Fal catchment for farming, nature and communities by taking an innovative source-to-sea approach to restoring 18,000 hectares of land.

The Fal catchment is one of the most beautiful areas in Cornwall, but its beauty masks some real issues affecting nature, water quality and farm profitability.

A group of people passionate about the Fal catchment, including farmers and landowners, have come together to shape an achievable vision for how this special place can be made more resilient for future generations.

Over the coming years, subject to funding, the project aims to help farmers and landowners to:

>> Increase water storage (by one million litres).

>> Create 20 ponds and 20km of swales.

>> Plant 45km of Cornish hedges.

>> Establish 150km of buffer strips.

>> Manage invasive species.

>> Restore 100ha of grassland.

>> Plant trees, including new hedges, orchards and agroforestry.