Meon Springs Wetland Project

The Meon Springs Wetland Project is a key environmental initiative aimed at enhancing local biodiversity, improving water quality, and supported by sustainable farming practices at Whitewool Farm. It is a Nitrate Mitigation Project for The Solent area.

Located in the heart of the South Downs National Park, the project focused on creating a Stage Zero Wetland at the point where water exits the farm, ensuring maximum water purity as it enters the River Meon and eventually The Solent.

Key objectives of the project include:

Water Management: The wetland maximizes water retention in the area, enabling denitrification to occur.
Biodiversity: The wetland creates a rich habitat for local wildlife, promoting greater biodiversity across the landscape.

The Meon Springs Wetland Project aligns with the farm's broader sustainability goals, fostering a balanced, healthy environment for both farming and wildlife.

A Nutrient Neutrality Project
Reducing Nitrate Levels in The River Meon and The Solent

High levels of nitrates in The Solent area have caused the UK government, Natural England and local councils to develop a nitrate neutrality policy that ensure new developments have nitrate mitigation measures that offset the nitrates discharging into any Solent international sites (Solent Maritime, Solent and Southampton Water, Portsmouth Harbour, Chichester and Langstone Harbours).

This has led to nitrate offset schemes being established in the areas draining in to The Solent.

One such scheme that has been approved by Natural England and the South Downs National Park Authority as a nitrate mitigation solution is the development of a Wetland area on Whitewool Stream, at the headwaters of The River Meon.

The Whitewool Wetland nitrate offset solution can be used to offset any proposal agreed in writing by Natural England, which would include planning applications within any of the below council areas:

Fareham Borough Council
East Hampshire District Council
Portsmouth City Council
Winchester City Council
Havant Borough Council
New Forest District Council
Eastleigh Borough Council

That drain to any of the below treatment works:

Southern Water Peel Common Waste Water Treatment Works.
The Southern Water Budds Farm Waste Water Treatment Works.
Ashlett Creek Water Treatment Works.
Or any other waste water treatment works as agreed in writing by Natural England.

The Whitewool Stream Wetland Project has been designed in collaboration with Jay Abrahams (Biologic Design), who has been working with permaculture principles throughout his career to create natural habitats that clean up water.

The wetland site was originally a narrow fast flowing area of stream surrounded by open arable land. In 2022, work commenced to transform the site by taking the original channel, a deep incised ditch, back to what is known as Stage Zero. A series of swales and ditches were developed to create a wet system, to hold a carbon rich biodiverse habitat of trees, wetland plants, microorganisms and fungi all contributing to reducing nutrients in the water. There are two areas which take nutrients out of the water to balance the ecology of the river.

The wetland system decreases peak flows that sometimes cause downstream flooding in the Winter. The extra Winter water retention also reduces low flow times in the late summer. Trees have been planted along the edges to protect the river and create a nature corridor from Whitewool stream to the neighbouring village of West Meon.

How is the project financed?

The project is financed by the sale of nitrate credits, which has been approved by Natural England and The South Downs National Park.

How does the wetland system benefit the environment?

The system has created a rich habitat for flora and fauna at all levels – from microbes to mammals. The permaculture principles will ensure long term resilience and maximum environmental gain.

Will it reduce nitrates and improve water quality?

The wetland system has been designed to reduce ‘legacy nitrates’ that have built up in the groundwater over many years. Combined with Whitewool Farm’s regenerative farming practices and drainage schemes, the wetland system makes a significant positive difference to the quality of water entering the main river in West Meon.

What are the long-term advantages?

Whitewool Farm Stream Wetland forms part of a broader water retentive landscape that improves the health and flow of the River Meon. The wetland system contributes to the government’s target to reduce excess nitrogen in areas of high habitat status.