A hidden corner of Wantage's history is dying in the dark. This winter we want our volunteers to cut back the suffocating reeds in the ancient Letcombe fen, let the light back in and plant a forgotten wildflower that naturally keeps the reeds at bay, restoring wetlands for water voles.
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Letcombe Brook is a rare chalk stream facing several serious threats, including physical modification, over-shading, pollution from sewage works, septic tanks and agriculture, climate change, population growth and expanding populations of non-native species, such as American crayfish, mink, and Japanese Knotweed. Many species are under threat including otters and the endangered water vole. Our town has huge new housing estates and sometimes people can feel isolated or lonely.
We are planning to use volunteers to help clear the invasive reeds and plant Marsh Lousewort in its place. We will restore Letcombe fen, expanding Oxfordshire's rarest wetland habitat by a massive 10%—creating a sunlit paradise just in time to reintroduce endangered water voles upstream of Wantage Mill. We will involve as many volunteers as possible, engaging them in nature, which is good for mental health, and encouraging them to learn useful countryside skills.
