The Environment Agency has worked together with partners to
invest almost £3m in environmental improvements in the North East
over the past year.
More than 21 hectares of habitat has been created or improved in
the North East over the past year as part of a £3million
programme of work to improve the environment for people and
wildlife.
Almost 12km of river has been improved and more than 8,000 trees
planted, while 32 hectares of stillwaters have been enhanced for
fishing.
The North East Environment Programme is managed and delivered by
the Environment Agency working mainly in partnership with
government backed Catchment Partnerships, bringing together river
and wildlife trusts, local authorities and other organisations to
improve the environment.
There were almost 50 partners involved in this year’s £3million
programme, contributing £461,000 in funding.
Key projects progressed in 2021/22 include:
- Blyth Estuary Habitat Enhancement – 27 habitat areas for
wildlife created at Port of Blyth to boost the ecology of the
estuary
- The EU Life Wader project led by Natural England will see the
Environment Agency deliver restoration work on the Rivers Till
and Breamish
- The Wilds of Wanney project aimed at improving water quality
in the Upper Wansbeck tributaries delivered 1.4km of protection
to the Delf Burn and supported the restoration of 4.5ha of
habitat
- The Northumberland Crayfish Strategy continued its work to
protect the endangered white clawed crayfish with the development
of safe breeding ‘Ark’ sites, a captive breeding programme and an
increased public awareness programme.
- Design and installation of a floating ecosystem on the Tyne
Estuary at Newcastle Quayside – the first of its kind on a tidal
waterbody - as part of the Tyne Estuary Habitat Enhancement
project.
- Progressing a Tipalt Burn project to identify priority
projects that will improve water quality in the burn, including
tree planting, reducing run-off from land into the water and
habitat creation.
- Gaunless Reconnected saw interventions at farms to reduce
pollution running off farmland and into the river, including
cattle crossings, improvements to farm yards and gates. It saw
2,700 trees planted, fencing installed and 300m of riverbank
restored.
- Wear Estuary Improvements saw the creation of a 150m2 of
saltmarsh along the River Wear Estuary - important habitat for
marine animals and birds.
- Fish for Tees, aimed at improving fish passage at five sites
and opening up 76km of river for fish migration made progress at
all sites, with design and delivery the next steps.
- At Billingham Beck, options were developed for improving fish
passage and creating and improving habitat.
Fiona Morris Environment Planning and Engagement Manager for the
Environment Agency in the North East, said:
There’s been a huge variety and scale of projects in this year’s
programme that have been started and delivered, from protecting
iconic species, enhancing and creating habitat and improving
water quality.
Together with our partners we are committed to driving forward
innovative environmental improvements and continuing to deliver
this ambitious programme of environmental improvements for people
and wildlife in the North East.
