Banca dati dei progetti dei PSR

The Starup-Tofterup municipality with the participation of private citizens used EAFRD funding to restore the river banks of the Holme River, improving the environment and contributing to preserving biodiversity.

The areas along the Holme River had been abandoned for many years and as a result of it the original natural environment as well as the biodiversity was threatened. In 2008 the local council of the Starup-Tofterup village, in cooperation with the Starup parish and local inhabitants started discussing the possibility of finding solutions to reverse this tendency. This process resulted in the setting up of a working group which discussed possible solutions as well as a project proposal to restore the green meadow along the river.

The overall objective of the project ‘Green meadow’ was to restore the open meadows through grazing, thus improving the landscape along the Holme River, as well as protecting biodiversity.

In the past the river banks used to be grazed by cattle. As part of the project, cattle, mainly Scottish Highland, Galloway and ANgus types, were re-introduced at 104 acres in the area. Before the re-introduction of cattle, the non-indigenous vegetation had to be removed; fences, paddocks, shelters and facilities to feed cattle needed to be built. A parking area for visitors and information stands were also constructed.

The project has restored the river banks, making them a more suitable environment to host some species of birds again. Public access to the area was created to allow people to enjoy the natural landscape. An association, including the municipality and many citizens for the support of landscaping by the use of cattle was also established. All citizens have the opportunity to become members of the association, and buy meat from the animals bred along the river banks.

Since the project mostly relied on volunteer work, it has been very important to set strong partnerships between the various actors involved in the implementation of the activities. Similarly, the involvement of the local press contributed to keep high the interest on and commitment to the initiative.

Starup-Tofterup village, southwestern Denmark.

Syddanmark

Denmark

66 211

27 312

22 346

16 553

https://tofterup.dk/c113.aspx/Holme_Ådalens_Afgræsningsforen#film

Lars Lauritsen

l.lauritsen@live.dk

+45 75337421; +45 40345630

English, Danish