A planning application has been submitted to Forest of Dean District Council to turn hundreds of acres of farmland on the Awre peninsula back into salt marsh. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) bought the site, about 365 acres, in December 2024.
What is being proposed
The application would breach the existing sea wall so that salt water can return to the land. It also includes a new flood defence and some changes to public footpaths.
- Breaching the sea wall to let estuary water back onto the land.
- A new flood defence.
- Ponds and creeks, placed away from footpaths so birds can rest and feed.
- Changes to some public footpaths.
- Farming to continue on the peninsula, which WWT says will be possible alongside the reserve.
Why WWT says it matters
WWT says salt marsh was present on the site centuries ago, and that the land has flooded in the past and is at increasing risk of flooding. It says the new habitat would support wildlife, cut flood problems and give local people a nature reserve to visit.
WWT’s early modelling suggests the Severn Bore would still run as normal, because the wave would pass the breach before the site began to fill with water.
What happens next
The application is due to go out for public consultation at the end of November. Residents who want to have a say can comment through the council’s planning process once the consultation opens. Search the Forest of Dean District Council planning register for the application reference. WWT says work on the site is due to begin next year.
