New lease of life for depleted farmland

Meadows, ponds and wetlands look set to replace swathes of depleted farmland through a nature restoration project.

Almost 70 acres (28ha) of low-yield arable farmland near Warboys, Cambridgeshire, are to be transformed, creating new habitats for animals.

Biodiversity net gain provider Naturum, which is leading on the project, said the land had been "farmed intensively for decades" and cannot produce food like it once did.

"With these plans, we hope to see skylarks, brown hares and badgers return, while also offering a real lifeline for declining species like the small heath butterfly," said co-founder Peter Klimt.

The site also covers more than 2km (1.2 miles) of the High Lode river, where plans include restoring a floodplain.

Naturum said the project would create places for species such as bats to forage and nest.

It is part of a 30-year project involving more than 200 acres (81ha) of arable land – about the same size as 113 professional football pitches.

The land will be managed by a family of local farmers who previously owned the site.

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.