Water for Wildlife, East Yorkshire
Project Officer: Jon Traill
A new project working with local people for the benefit of wildlife, the River Hull project officially started in late 2008 and builds on our ongoing work towards our Living Landscapes vision.
The aim of the project is to restore, enhance and create new wetland habitats for the benefit of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and habitats throughout the river valley.
The main focus of this is around the river Hull itself, but work will also be carried out on adjacent land where new wetland habitat can provide huge benefits to wide variety of plant and animal species.
Among the species to benefit are:
Water vole: Now recognised as one of Britain’s fastest disappearing mammals, but still with a stronghold in the R. Hull valley.
Otter: Recovering from a critically low population in the 1970’s with lack of suitable undisturbed habitat the main modern day issue.
Farmland birds: Although often not directly linked to wetlands, many farmland bird species greatly benefit from wet areas. Species such as lapwing and grey partridge need wet areas to allow young chicks to feed on insects and barn owls hunt amongst the thick bank side vegetation along side watercourses and in wet grasslands, looking for small mammals.
Amphibians: Much work is targeted on ponds, with the restoration and management of existing ponds as well as creation of new ones. By creating a network of ponds across the landscape – both rural and urban, frogs, toads and newts can be greatly helped.
"As well as working to benefit wildlife in the wider countryside we will also be working alongside local communities by providing lots of opportunities to get involved with the project."
A range of talks, walks and events is taking place through the whole river valley from Driffield in the north of the catchment to the city of Hull in the south. By engaging with people of all ages from urban, suburban and rural areas we aim to not only educate people about the importance of the river valley for people and wildlife, but also to show them how they can be involved in looking after it for future generations.
"Local pride and a sense of ownership will be at the heart of the work we want to undertake."
