The National Trust has submitted a planning application to Cotswold District Council for Sherborne wetlands, a project to increase nature-rich environments for wildlife to thrive and help conserve open water on the Sherborne Brook.

The proposed enhancements to the wetlands alongside Sherborne Brook increase water holding capacity and slow the flow of water, encouraging more sediment to be deposited before the water returns to the channel, creating an area rich in biodiversity.

Restoring natural processes, the plans are designed to provide more opportunities for wildlife to thrive. The designs have been created to be sympathetic to the existing natural environment, helping manage silt levels and therefore controlling levels of aquatic vegetation in the most visible parts of the brook.

The plans aim to reconnect the river with its floodplain. Species such as snipe, water voles, otters and grass snakes, which are already found here, would thrive in the wetter conditions and allow invertebrates such as dragonflies and damselflies to prosper too.

Simon Nicholas, countryside manager for the Cotswold Countryside Portfolio, said: "The plans, if approved, propose a solution that will increase opportunities for wildlife to thrive on the Sherborne Estate. Wetlands support a huge variety of wildlife, and we are pleased to be putting forward a solution that restores natural processes."

Andrew Danson, National Trust project manager at Sherborne, added: "We've worked extensively with partners and experts on this proposal, ensuring that Sherborne remains a beautiful and nature-rich place for generations to come.

"As well as improving the area for wildlife, these designs will help manage levels of silt and vegetation in the brook before it reaches the area where we're working to maintain open water. We believe these plans are a vital part of our plans to manage silt levels in the brook, and maintain the area's much-loved historic landscape"

The planning application can be viewed on the Cotswold District Council website, using reference 25/02583/FUL.

Sherborne is situated about four miles east of Northleach.