More than 82 hectares of habitat has been created or improved in
the past year as part of the Environment Agency’s programme of
improvements across Yorkshire.
The programme, which includes almost 40 projects, also includes
15km of riverbank improvements and has seen 53,000 trees planted.
Projects include removing barriers to fish movement, habitat
restoration, measures to improve water quality and natural flood
management, which protect the natural environment, make rivers
more resilient to climate change and boost wildlife.
The Yorkshire 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 over 100 partners involved in this year’s £5million
programme contributing more than £2.1million in funding to the
projects.
Key projects progressed in 2021/22 include:
- The Upper Aire Habitat and Land Management Project has
improved habitat and water quality across over 350km² through
landowner engagement.
- Connecting the Calder is investigating five potential weir
removals on the River Calder.
- Derwent Upland Streams has been working with landowners in
the North York Moors National Park and surrounding areas to
improve land management and boost ecological status across eight
waterbodies.
- The BEACH Esk project has worked with local communities and
landowners to reduce marine pollution and increase habitats like
saltmarsh in the Esk estuary.
- Other projects on the Esk include the ongoing Pearl Mussel
captive breeding programme to drive the recovery of the
endangered species, and research work to discover if invasive
signal crayfish are present in the river.
- A new Yorkshire Coast Catchment Partnership was set up to
bring together expertise to benefit the 320km Yorkshire
coastline.
- Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership has reduced the
run-off of water from the land and sedimentation in the Don and
Rother Catchment and slowed the flow – reducing flood risk
downstream.
- The Leven Canal was de-silted delivering 1.6km of
improvements to what is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI).
- The Rivers in Elmet project addressed sediment and nutrient
pollution through tree and hedgerow planting and making
improvements on farms.
Victoria Slingsby, Environment Planning and Engagement Manager
for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said:
This year’s environment programme has yet again seen some
significant improvements right across the county, from natural
flood management solutions, improved fish migration and
interventions to enhance water quality.
The scale of delivery and achievement reflects the appetite of
ourselves and our partners in Yorkshire to be at the forefront of
managing environmental improvements for people and wildlife.
