Elms Farm Rewilding Project

Restoring habitats and supporting nature recovery in the River Leam catchment

About the project

Elms Farm sits in the village of Hunningham in Warwickshire beside the River Leam. Since taking on the land, the owners have been inspired by rewilding sites such as Knepp and wanted to move away from farming. Their aim was to create a landscape shaped by wildlife, natural processes and long term recovery.

The project began with a detailed farm report which identified opportunities across the 17 hectare site. Between 2023 and 2025 Severn Rivers Trust worked with the landowners to put this plan into action using funding from the Environment Agency’s Severn Woodlands grant and the Water Environment Improvement Fund.

What we delivered

The project brought together a range of habitat improvements including:

• 11 ha of arable reversion to pasture.

• 11 ponds and scrapes created across the site.

• 3.5 ha of new woodland and scrub added through scalloped hedgerow edges.

• A diverted drainage ditch to reduce point source pollution.

• Green hay spreading to begin creating a future 2 hectare hay meadow.

• A new orchard planted with heritage fruit varieties from Warwickshire and the Midlands.

• Trials of unguarded and biodegradable tree guards to reduce plastic use.

Together these changes have created a more varied and natural mosaic of habitats.

Why it matters

Elms Farm supports wider work across the Leam catchment where reducing phosphate run off, tackling sediment and slowing water during heavy rain are major priorities. Taking the land out of arable production has already reduced nutrient loads. The ponds, scrapes and restored soils mean water is now held in the landscape for longer.

Wildlife has responded quickly. Common snipe and jack snipe have been seen across the ditch and scrape network. A recent Biodiversity Net Gain survey recorded an uplift of almost 100 percent. Severn Rivers Trust will continue supporting the landowners with a habitat management plan and low density grazing.

Bringing the project to life

As the habitats have started to settle, the feel of the site has already changed. One moment that captured this well came when the final parkland oak tree was planted with the landowners and their grandchildren. These trees were chosen to sit across the fields and planting the last one together showed the long term intent of the project in a simple and natural way.

What we achieved

• 3.5 ha of new woodland and scrub.

• More than 2 ha of future hay meadow.

• 11 ha of arable reversion to pasture.

• 11 ponds and scrapes created.

• A diverted drainage ditch to reduce pollution.

• A heritage orchard planted.

• Almost 100 percent uplift in Biodiversity Net Gain.

Looking ahead

Now that the main works are complete, the focus shifts to careful management and monitoring. The woodlands will establish, the hay meadow will diversify and the wetlands will continue to attract new wildlife. The site will keep developing in character as natural processes take hold.

Severn Rivers Trust will continue working with the landowners to guide grazing levels, monitor habitats and support this growing rewilding landscape in the River Leam catchment.