Calderdale nature project to benefit from Yorkshire Water's £250,000 fund

In May 2020 Yorkshire Water announced its investment of £250,000, in projects run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Wild Trout Trust, Lower Ure Conservation Trust, Calderdale Council, the RSPB and Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley.

Money will go towards the Brearley Fields Wetland Nature Reserve, part of the Calder Greening project being led by Calderdale Council.

A new wetland nature reserve will be created on former playing fields lying on flood plain between the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal in Mytholmroyd.

The funding will assist in providing new and improved wildlife habitats along with opportunities for local people to help create and sustainably manage the reserve.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, Coun Scott Patient, said: “We’re delighted that the Brearley Field Wetland Nature Reserve project has been awarded this funding, which will help support wetland developments.

“The project looks to enhance the natural environment and bring health and wellbeing benefits. It will also complement flood resilience work in Mytholmroyd, highlighting the benefits of the adjacent waterways by creating an attractive yet functional landscape.

“We’ve worked closely with the local community to help shape plans for the site and this money will also allow local people to have further input into its continued management.”

Yorkshire Water is the second largest landowner in the county.

Through its biodiversity enhancement programme it works in partnership with others to help facilitate conservation projects that benefit the landscapes in which it operates.

This is particularly important in the current Covid-19 crisis, as the projects will help communities to re-engage with nature as restrictions are lifted.

Dr. Ben Aston, Yorkshire Water’s lead for biodiversity and ecology said: “A key part of our corporate strategy is to protect the environment. Through working with others rather than going it alone, we ensure that there is a long-term sustainable legacy to the programme and that there is the right expertise on board to deliver the best possible results for nature and our customers.

“It is fantastic to be able to support a range of amazing initiatives that are driven by making Yorkshire a more habitable area for wildlife and plants, as well as improving people’s well-being and sustaining the ecosystems on which we rely for many of our services.

“As well as our biodiversity enhancement programme, we are working with catchment partnerships across our area to help improve the sustainability of the conservation groups who help look after our rivers, and look forward to continuing this work to help deliver a green recovery for Yorkshire from Covid-19.”