A new wetland habitat is set to boost biodiversity and flood resilience in Benson.

The project is part of the Benson relief road scheme, undertaken by Oxfordshire County Council.

The council is creating the habitat, along with mammal culverts and an otter tunnel, as part of the construction of the south-westerly section of the road.

The wetland will be on land designated as a flood compensation area, which will help protect buildings and roads by holding excess water.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said: "The wetland habitat is going to increase biodiversity hugely.

"It will attract a whole range of wildlife, provide food for foraging birds and small mammals as well as flowers for insects in the spring.

"It will also offer cover for nesting birds and shelter for hibernation."

The public will have access to the wildlife wetland area, allowing residents to enjoy walking along gravel paths and observing its development over time.

The area will be planted with a mix of meadow grassland, semi-mature native trees including black alder, silver birch, and Scots pine, and shrubs such as elder, wild privet, blackthorn, and hawthorn.

These species will complement existing habitats, with some able to tolerate wetter conditions around the flood compensation area.

Wildlife-friendly structures, including eight precast concrete culvert boxes with integral mammal shelves, have been installed beneath the new road layout.

The culverts will drain water away from the road during heavy rainfall and flooding, while the mammal shelves, set into the side walls of the culvert at a higher level, will provide a safe passage for badgers and other wildlife.

A precast concrete pipe for an otter tunnel has also been placed adjacent to Elm Bridge and Lady Brook, set at a higher ground level than the existing brook to allow mammals to safely move around the area when the brook is flooded.

Councillor Roberts added: "These specialised construction elements used on this scheme will help reduce our impact on the environment and provide mammals with refuge during extreme weather events."

Richard Stonehouse, contracts manager at Milestone Infrastructure, said: "Milestone is proud to be working alongside Oxfordshire County Council to help protect wildlife and provide a new wetland habitat.

"We understand the impact that road improvement works can have but our aim is to improve the overall local biodiversity.

"That’s why we have carefully designed and created the mammal culverts and otter tunnel, and we hope that the new wetland habitat will be enjoyed by local residents and wildlife alike."

Ecological surveys in late November 2023, as well as in 2021, found badgers, otters, and water voles in the vicinity, alongside bats, red kites, and other birds.