Use this page to learn about the Limestone Landscape Link Partnership Project.
Project aims
The Limestone Landscape Link (LLL) project aims to improve the connectivity of the landscape between the Mendip Hills Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Cotswolds National Landscape. These two areas include some of our most valued landscapes and provide facilities and opportunities for recreation and tourism. They also support many of our priority habitats and most important wildlife sites.
The LLL project seeks to enable wildlife to move more easily between the two protected areas and adapt to climate change, as well as improve access to the natural environment for local communities and visitors. These are key ambitions of the West of England Nature Partnership and our Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy.
Project location
The Limestone Link footpath runs through the project area, providing a recreational route and connection between three green infrastructure landscape scale projects: Chew Valley Reconnected, Somer Valley Rediscovered and Bathscape. These projects will be working with the LLL project to enhance ecological connectivity.
The core area of the LLL project is based around the Cam and Wellow rivers. The project's landowner engagement is focused on these areas. You can view the LLL project boundary on the map below:
Further project information
The LLL is part of Big Chalk, a wider ambition to connect calcareous (chalk and limestone) landscapes across the whole of Southern England, from the South Coast to the Midlands. As one of the most developed concepts for linking two designated landscapes in the Big Chalk, it offers an opportunity to demonstrate how to work at scale to link designated landscapes for wildlife.
Natural England has provided initial funding for a species recovery project looking at barriers to eel passage in the area that Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) are delivering. This is part of BART's work with landowners on habitat improvement.
Future capital works projects are likely to include:
- fencing off watercourses
- planting wildflower meadows or herbal ley
- planting of trees and hedgerows