Limewoods Links Challenge Scheme
The Limewoods area is a prime biodiversity area not just for woodlands but for other habitats as well. These other habitats, often linear habitats such as hedgerows and watercourses, provide opportunities for mammals and invertebrates to move safely throughout the landscape.
The Limewoods Links Challenge Scheme ran from 2004 – 2009, supporting farmers and landowners to create and manage important habitat linkages between the woodlands, hedgerows, meadows and watercourses across the Limewoods area.
Over 26km of new hedgerows have been planted, 1.7km of mature hedgerows laid and 2.3ha of linear woodland belts have been planted to improve habitat linkages. An added benefit is that this habitat creation work has often enabled landowners to enter into long-term Environmental Stewardship agreements with Natural England, ensuring that their farmland is managed with biodiversity as well as food production in mind.
