Gowy Meadows Expansion Project
What is it?
The Gowy Meadows Expansion Project is a pilot landscape restoration and flood resilience initiative focused on the Lower Gowy catchment in Cheshire.
The project will deliver wetland creation, meadow habitat restoration and natural flood management interventions designed to reduce flood risk, improve biodiversity and strengthen ecological resilience across the catchment.
The programme forms part of wider ambitions to restore the Gowy catchment through nature-based solutions that support both communities and nationally significant infrastructure.
Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?
The Lower Gowy catchment is increasingly vulnerable to flooding, water management pressures and habitat fragmentation. Strategic infrastructure and internationally important environmental sites within the catchment require greater resilience as climate pressures intensify.
The project has been designed to demonstrate how targeted investment in wetlands and natural infrastructure can reduce flood risk while delivering wider environmental and economic benefits.
The scheme also supports the protection of key assets including Stanlow Oil Refinery and the Mersey Estuary RAMSAR site.
What is it going to deliver?
The project will deliver approximately 350 hectares of intervention across the catchment, including:
- Wetland creation
- Meadow habitat restoration
- Natural flood management measures
- Water storage and “slow the flow” interventions
- Biodiversity Net Gain habitat creation
- Improved ecological connectivity
- Increased climate resilience for strategic infrastructure
- Opportunities for future investment through biodiversity and water markets
The programme will create approximately 50 hectares of wetland habitat as part of the wider catchment restoration approach.
Intervention:
- Wetland Creation
- Slow the Flow NFM – To Protect:
- Stanlow Oil Refinery
- Mersey Estuary RAMSAR Site
- Meadow Habitat Creation
- Wetland Habitat Creation
LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:
This project aligns with the following Cheshire Local Nature Partnership goals:
Goal One
Increase contribution of nature-based solutions to address the ecological and climate crises.
Goal Three
Increase value of investment into nature.
Goal Four
Mainstream nature recovery to ensure Cheshire becomes nature positive by 2030.
Estimated Cost:
Investment values currently in development as part of wider catchment resilience planning.
Lower Gowy catchment, Cheshire.
Approximately 350 hectares.
Cheshire West and Chester
Multi-phase long-term delivery programme.
Lead Partner – Chester West & Chester Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Wild Natured.
Resilience Buyer Potential: Landowners, local authorities, environmental organisations, infrastructure stakeholders and resilience buyers.
GET INVOLVED
Contact the Cheshire Nature Local Partnership
Invest in nature
Are you looking for opportunities to invest in nature or natural capital strategically across Cheshire?
Offset your carbon impact
Need to offset your carbon impact locally or acquire Biodiversity Net Gain units for development and large infrastructure projects?
Corporate opportunities for volunteering
Need corporate opportunities for volunteering or does you wish to adopt a nature recovery project or community action?
We can help you find opportunities the right opportunities across Cheshire. Contact us today to get involved in the Local Nature Partnership or to find out more.