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Wheatear in heathland

Wilder Marches

Logos of four Wildlife Trusts

PROJECT UPDATE:

Wilder Marches was a pioneering collaboration between Wildlife Trusts across the English Welsh border, launched to explore bold, landscape-scale solutions for nature’s recovery. With support from the John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust, the programme explored how we can work together at a landscape scale to restore nature, support sustainable farming, and prepare for new investment in our environment.

While the Wilder Marches programme has now concluded, its legacy continues. The learning, relationships and expertise developed have directly shaped ongoing projects in delivery with partner Trusts, and the evolution of Severn & Wye Nature, a growing regional partnership focused on practical action for nature and climate.

This work has strengthened how we collaborate across landscapes, engage with landowners, and design effective environmental recovery initiatives. Tools, templates and learning from the programme continue to inform how we plan and implement future activity across the region.

By building trust, capability, and ambition across borders, Wilder Marches laid vital groundwork for a wilder, more connected landscape — one that continues to grow and deliver for nature, climate, and people.

To find out more about the next phase of this journey, visit the Severn & Wye Nature website

Hillside with bluebells in bloom

© MWT/Rob Haigh

Thanks to the generous support from the John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust, but as work progresses, we hope to see: 

  • Core wildlife areas expanded
  • Habitat restored and created as part of the farmed landscape: mixed woodlands, wood pasture, ffridd, hedgerows, field margins 
  • Peatlands protected and restored 
  • River channels, floodplains and wetlands restored
  • More regenerative farming; conservation grazing with native breeds  
  • An increase in sustainable food production
  • More tourism and other non-farm income streams 

We look forward to sharing updates about the programme soon via our news and blog pages.

For more information please contact Jenny Jackson-Tate, Wilder Marches Programme Manager: jennyjt@wildermarches.org.uk  |  07930 952198.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust           Radnorshire Wildlife Trust                 

                                                 Shropshire Wildlife Trust