Eligible project types
Eligible projects
We are looking for farmers and landholders to develop and maintain long-term woodlands and wetlands, and short-term grassland projects.
The following types of Nature-based Projects are eligible to participate in the Solent Catchment Market:
- Wetlands (more than 80 years): Constructing a Wetland to deliver the water treatment properties of natural wetlands
- Woodlands (more than 80 years): Revert whole or part fields from agricultural production to create new woodland including wider catchment woodland; riparian woodland or cross-slope woodland.
- Grassland (less than 5 years): revert whole or part fields from arable use to 'no input’ grassland.
For further guidance about the different types of Nature-based Projects, please
contact the team directly.
Wetlands
Constructed Wetlands are man-made systems which function by mimicking the water treatment properties of natural wetlands. Constructed Wetlands are a series of shallow constructed ponds (cells) which are fed by surface water flows from runoff and ditch flow, slowing this flow down to cause sediment deposition and utilisation of nutrients by aquatic vegetation. By capturing and filtering water flowing from agricultural lands, Constructed Wetlands stop excessive nutrients and sediments entering nearby waterways. In effect, Constructed Wetlands are a cost-effective alternative to man-made systems that work to improve water quality and reduce pollution.
In terms of biodiversity, wetlands are home to some of the most biologically rich habitats on Earth. They provide spawning grounds for fish and critical areas of rest and foraging for migrating waterfowl and birds, amongst many other species groups. They also provide critical habitat for large and diverse populations of plants, including many threatened and protected species. This project will provide more of this valuable habitat and can also help connect sites to other floodplains or wetland habitats, which allows wildlife to move across the landscape.
Woodlands
The three main types of woodland eligible within this market are:
Wider catchment woodland
Planting can help protect sensitive soils from disturbance and erosion; increase infiltration and reduce water runoff; sequester carbon; and provide important habitat to support biodiversity.
Riparian woodland
Planting along watercourses can create a buffer between rivers and the adjacent land, intercepting and removing nutrient pollutants and sediment in run-off; providing a barrier to pesticide spray drift; protecting riverbanks from disturbance and erosion; slowing flood flows; sequestering carbon; providing shade to reduce thermal stress to fish and other aquatic life; and supporting a greater degree of biodiversity along river corridors.
Cross-slope woodland
Planting of smaller areas (typically belts) of woodland across hill slopes. Cross-slope woodlands can intercept pollutants and reduce rapid runoff from higher land. They can also encourage infiltration and increase the soil's water storage capacity; sequester carbon; and support beneficial biodiversity within the farmed landscape.
Grasslands
This nature-based project option will revert whole or part fields from arable use to no input grassland. This can include the creation of new or wider buffer strips, including tussocky grass species.
From an agricultural point of view, arable reversion can be used to:
- bring less profitable areas out of cultivation, for example steeper, wetter or more remote land, or land with very poor soil;
- provide additional forage area;
- enable wider changes to the farming system.
Often those areas which are less profitable to cultivate provide the greatest environmental benefits when reverted to grassland.