Lead organisation
Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group East - FWAG East
Partner organisations
Project description
Across the River Beane catchment, a shared effort is quietly reshaping the landscape—one wetland at a time.
Led by the River Beane Farmer Cluster and FWAG East, the One Hundred Wetlands Project is restoring and creating a connected network of ponds and headwater wetlands across this chalk stream catchment. Working directly with farmers, the project is identifying ponds that have been lost, overgrown or degraded, bringing them back into good ecological condition, and creating new wetlands where they can make the greatest difference.
Each site adds something vital: slowing and storing water as it moves through the landscape, filtering out sediments and nutrients, improving water quality, and easing pressure downstream. Together, they form a living network that supports flood resilience and brings new life to farmland—amphibians, invertebrates, birds and pollinators all finding space to return and thrive.
This is practical action with a shared purpose. Wetlands are designed with farmers so they work for farm businesses as well as the wider catchment—delivering nature recovery alongside real on-the-ground benefits.
The ambition is clear and growing: 100 wetlands across the River Beane. The work is underway, with wetland 7 already delivered, and momentum building as partners continue to secure support to bring each new site into being.
Project location
The whole of the River Beane Catchment, a chalk stream landscape between Stevenage, Hertford and Buntingford.
Contribution to Big Chalk
This project reflects the Big Chalk vision in action: connected, nature-rich chalk landscapes shaped through collaboration and practical restoration at scale.
By restoring headwaters and strengthening farmland habitats, it helps the catchment function more naturally—slowing water, improving quality, and rebuilding ecological connections across the landscape.
It also reflects the Big Chalk approach: working across boundaries, led by land managers, and focused on joined-up recovery that delivers for nature, water, farming, and people together.
Richard Wilson, Farm Manager being presented with the certificate for completing the first three wetlands in the one hundred wetlands project
FWAG East’s Lucy Jenkins explaining to the River Beane Farmer Cluster the benefits of creating and restoring farm ponds
Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?
The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.
If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.
Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.