The Avon Wildlife Trust has acquired Ebdon Farm near Wick St Lawrence in North Somerset through a £5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The 44-acre property, previously operated as a dairy farm, will undergo transformation into a wetlands and nature reserve designed to support wildlife populations and address climate resilience concerns.
The trust described the initiative as its most ambitious undertaking to date, with plans to convert the currently nature-depleted landscape into a habitat suitable for various species. Work is scheduled to commence in the autumn, focusing on the creation of wetland areas intended to support bats, newts, kingfishers, and bird populations of international significance, including wading birds and waterfowl.
The farm’s location approximately 2 kilometers from the coast positions it as strategically important for both ecological recovery and climate adaptation efforts in what officials characterized as a climate-vulnerable region. Following a construction phase, the site will open to the public as Ebdon Farm Nature Reserve, providing community access to the natural area while enabling research into local climate impacts.
Trust leadership highlighted the project’s significance as a demonstration of nature-positive approaches that could benefit wildlife, farming practices, and local communities. The initiative was made possible through prior acquisition of the property by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation charity, which provided the trust with a two-year window to secure funding for the purchase.
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