Wilder St Albans

In April 2021, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife, in partnership with St Albans District Council launched a pioneering project, Wilder St Albans.

Tim Hill, Conservation Manager at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust describes how the project was developed and what it hopes to achieve.

“Wilder St Albans aims to increase biodiversity – natural habitats and the species they support - across the District of St Albans. We will encourage and support practical action by the local community and look for natural solutions to the climate and ecological crises, like changing mowing regimes to increase flowers and establishing more woodland through natural regeneration.

In August 2021, in partnership with the Ver Valley Society and with funding from the Debs Foundation and Linder Foundation, we reintroduced water voles to the River Ver, 34 years after they became extinct. This is what the project is all about, restoring nature through partnership action.

It couldn't come a moment too soon.  The Trust’s ‘Hertfordshire State of Nature’ report was launched in March 2020, highlighting the immediate need for action to address the ecological and climate crises, and to reach our target to secure 30% of land for wildlife by 2030.  Wilder St Albans is a great example of how communities and organisations can come together to make a real difference and play their part in nature’s recovery.”