Thousands of pounds pledged to restore land near to River Frome
The online appeal aims to create a ‘water meadow’ for future generations to enjoy
Land near the River Frome in Somerset could be “secured as a public space for people and nature” if a new crowd-funding campaign reaches its goal.
The River Frome runs south to north at the eastern edge of the eponymous town, providing a natural eastern border for the majority of the settlement and a valuable ecological buffer between the town and the surrounding countryside.
While most of the riverbank is accessible via a public right of way (or the National Cycle Network route 24), a crucial short section lacks guaranteed public access – namely the section between the Old Printworks housing development and The Retreat, not far from the railway station.
Frome Town Council unanimously voted in June to purchase a crucial section of land and register the route along it as a public footpath on Somerset Council’s definitive rights of way map.
A crowd-funding campaign has now been launched to raise the remaining funding required to purchase this land and create a ‘water meadow’ for future generations to enjoy.
The four-acre site in question (dubbed the Adderwell water meadow) lies on the west bank of the river, with the existing path through the land being narrow, overgrown and stony.
While it is not yet an official public right of way, the route is regularly accessed by members of the public, including dog walkers and local anglers.
The route’s future was threatened when the Planning Inspectorate ruled in favour of four new homes and an employment studio being constructed on The Retreat back in August 2021 – a decision described by members of the Save River Frome Pathway campaign group as “tragic”.
Under the ‘water meadow’ proposals, the existing boardwalk constructed by the Acorn Property Group (as part of the Old Printworks development on Caxton Road) will be extended under the railway bridge up to The Retreat.
The town council has already submitted an application to Somerset Council to designate this path as a public right of way – with the route being secured all the way to the Blatchbridge area on the edge of Frome, near the proposed Selwood Garden Community of 1,700 new homes.
From The Retreat, pedestrians can follow the existing cycle paths into the town centre via Rodden Meadow – with a direct route into Saxonvale being provided via a new footbridge under Mayday Saxonvale’s vision for the site (which will be debated by Somerset Council’s executive committee in late-January).
A small picnic area will be provided within the site, along with benches and interpretation boards, allowing the area to be used for recreation by children, families and a wide range of local groups.
The Friends of the River Frome (which will be leading the project with the town council) said that preserving the area as a water meadow would boost biodiversity and protect the town centre from flooding.
A spokesman said: “Since medieval times, meadows adjacent to rivers have been allowed to ‘drown’ in the winter to reduce flooding risks downstream.
“If Adderwell Meadow did not flood, Wallbridge and the centre of town would be much more likely to be inundated when there is heavy rain, which is becoming more likely as a result of global heating.
“Water meadows are a distinctive wetland habitat for wildlife. The well-watered ground has lush growth in the spring.
“Already we regularly see green woodpeckers, sparrow hawks, kingfishers, dippers, as well as slow-worms, otters and beavers.
“The meadow is opposite the Rodden Nature Reserve on the other bank, so the whole area is becoming an important haven for wildlife as the town expands.”
It will cost £75,000 to acquire the land and create the improved access – of which £50,000 has already been raised by Frome Town Council and the Friends of the River Frome.
The newly-launched Crowdfunder seeks to secure the remaining £25,000, with match funding being provided by the Aviva Community Fund Fund – meaning a donation of £100 with gift aid will actually raise £220.
If the purchase is successful, the land will be transferred to the Theodora Ann Le Gros Trust, which is “dedicated to preserving Frome’s open spaces for the benefit of the community forever”.
The trust already owns the Dippy (which lies between the B3092 The Mount and Adderwell Road) along with other green spaces in the town.
In the longer-term, the town council hopes to build a new bridge which would provide connections to the railway station and the Edmund Park housing estate.
As part of the planning approval for 450 homes (which was granted by Mendip District Council in February 2019), Persimmon Homes South West committed to providing funding for this footbridge, which would go under the railway bridge and prevent these homes from feeling cut off from the rest of the town.
Town council Steve Tanner stated in June: “There is some Section 106 money for it – we’d probably have to raise a bit more, but it’s a start.
“Persimmon would build a path from Edmund Park to the edge of the bridge, and from this site you could link through to the Old Printworks and The Retreat up to the railway station and into the town.
“It basically cuts down a 20-minute walk for residents living in Edmund Park to connect with the rest of the town.”
To donate to the Adderwell water meadow crowdfunder, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/adderwell-water-meadow. For further information on the project, or to get involved with the Friends of the River Frome as a volunteer, email hello@friendsoftheriverfrome.co.uk.