Yorkshire Environment Programme A Year in Review: Projects 2021-2022
Contents Foreword…………………………………..……… 3 Glossary………………………………………..…. 4 Introduction and Acknowledgements………...... 5 Yorkshire Catchments and Projects…………… 6 - 9 Aire & Calder………………………..……….….. 10 - 12 Derwent…………………………………….......... 13 - 15 Esk & Coastal Streams……………………….... 16 - 18 Yorkshire Coast…………………………………. 19 - 20 Don & Rother…………………………………….. 21 - 23 Hull & East Riding…………………………….… 24 - 26 Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse & Wharfe………….…. 27 - 29
I am delighted to share this review of the Environment Programme’s achievements for the environment and the people of Yorkshire in 2021/22. As we navigate our way out of the Covid 19 pandemic, directly into other challenges such as rising costs of construction and materials, the Environment Programme are proud to have maintained delivery of a variety of projects to improve our environment. Recent years have shown how important nature enhancements are in sustaining our economy and our well being. 2021/22 saw the end of our North Yorkshire Natural Flood Management Programme with the completion of the last project at Backstone Beck in Ilkley. This programme of works has paved the way as national pilots for thinking innovatively about Nature Based Solutions to flood risk management while delivering multiple environmental benefits. Significant time, planning and engagement has been invested in developing our Fish Pass Programme as opening up our rivers to priority species is so important to us in Yorkshire. The Environment Programme’s new delivery model, working with PCM, has enabled the progression of investigations into new fish passes on our gauging weirs at Addingham and Hunsingore and the start of our next flagship fish pass project on the River Wharfe, Fish to the Friars, with feasibility of a new pass at Tadcaster being
In my new role as Yorkshire Area Director, I look forward to celebrating many more achievements in future years, as we continue to work together to create a resilient and green future for Yorkshire. Mike Dugher, Area Director, Yorkshire
Foreword
Deliveryinvestigated.ofprojects last year was largely possible due to the unprecedented value of Water Environment Improvement Funds awarded to the Yorkshire Environment Programme, matched once again by significant external funding contributions secured by ourselves and partners. The scale of delivery and achievement reflects the appetite of our partners in Yorkshire to be at the forefront of managing environmental improvements. Due to WEIF funding cuts, in future years the Environment Programme and our partners will be seeking alternative funding solutions for environmental projects, challenging the Programme to think even more innovatively about resourcing their work. The review demonstrates how successful we are in Yorkshire at integrating across teams which will be more important to future delivery than ever. These successes would not have been possible without our trusted and valued partners and also colleagues who sit outside the EP team, working as project managers on the programme or contributing their time and expertise. I would like to thank everyone involved in delivering Yorkshire’s ambitious and successful Environment Programme.
Glossary CaBA – Catchment-Based Approach EP – Environment Programme FAS – Flood Alleviation Scheme FBG – Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology FCRM Flood and Coastal Risk Management FIP Fisheries Improvement Fund INNS Invasive Non Native Species NBS Nature Based Solutions NFM Natural Flood Management PCM Programme and Contract Management PSO Partnership and Strategic Oversight RBMP – River Basin Management Plan SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest WEIF – Water Environment Improvement Fund WFD - Water Framework Directive WR Water Resources YDCP Yorkshire Derwent Catchment Partnership YWT Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Acknowledgements
cities,
Noble Causes… Introduction 21
This review highlights the key achievements from the Yorkshire areas 2021/22 Programme. We have worked with many external partners to deliver on each of our noble causes, across National Parks, coastlines and rural areas. This report will delve into the amazing outcomes we have achieved throughout each catchment area, and detail some case studies shared by our catchment coordinators and project managers.
interesting
Restoration
Connected and Protected Thriving Ecosystems Rural Resilience Driving Down Diffuse Pollution BEACH Better Estuaries and Coastal Habitats Protecting Yorkshire’s Peatlands
stretching
The successful delivery of the Environment Programme owes a great deal to many teams within the EA, without whom none of this would be possible. These include: Fisheries, Biodiversity & Geomorphology; Sustainable Places; Flood & Coastal Risk Management; Partnerships & Strategic Overview; Legal and Procurement teams. We are also indebted to our external partners including Natural England and Forestry Commission, local authorities, national parks, Yorkshire Water, River Trusts, Wildlife Trusts, community groups and other third sector organisations.
Our st Century Cities Urban
Yorkshire’s Catchments EskHumber&Coastal Streams Hull & East Riding Wharfe and Ouse Lower Aire & DonCalder&Rother Derwent Swale, Ure, Nidd,UpperOuse Yorkshire Coast
Yorkshire Environment Programme Team Kirsty Welch Project Manager: all catchments James Duke Programme lead & Manager:ProjectHull & E. Riding Dan Jagucki Project Manager: Don & Rother Allison Pierre Project Manager: Esk & Coast Ineke Jackson Project Manager: Aire & Calder Simon Stokes ProjectCalder;SUNOWManager:&NFMLead HannahLinton ProgrammeAssistant Catchment Co-ordinators Vacancy Swale,OuseNidd,Ure,andWharfe Rachel Kipling AireCalderand Anthony Dowling DonRotherand VictoriaMurray Derwent, Esk and Coast AmandaFoster EastHumber,HullandRiding
Funding streams managed by EP and associated project managers FCRM Flood and Coastal Risk Management FIP Fisheries Improvement Fund NFM Natural Flood Management WR Water Resources WEIF Water ImprovementEnvironmentFund £1.9 m £47 k£61 k£423 k£470 k Partner£2.13contributionsm
FCRMWRFIPWEIF Key The map shows all of the projects on the Yorkshire Environment Programme based on the four funding streams WR+FCRM Yorkshire EP Projects 2021 – 2022 WEIF+FCRM
Aire & Calder WFD Status Good Moderate Poor £780k EA expenditure £8.2k External funding 11 Partner organisations involved 123 Community events held ▪ 38k trees planted ▪ 2.1 km enhancedriverbanks ▪ 4 fish passes installed Catchment Info This catchment ranges from the uplands of the Pennines and Yorkshire Dales to low lying floodplains where the Aire meets the Ouse. There are some highly urbanised areas with opportunity for postindustrial regeneration such as Halifax.Huddersfield,Leeds,and Challenges Waterbodies are impacted by complex issues stemming from our industrial past and urban setting. We work to reconnect and restore rivers, by diffusestakeholdersworkinginvasivewaterways,communitieslinkingtotheirmanagingspecies,andtogetherwithtotacklepollutionfrom urban and agricultural sources. Better Becks Calder Greening River Worth Restoration Live Streaming Leeds Upper Aire Habitat & Land Management Connecting the Calder Developing the Natural Aire Improving Yorkshire’s Industrial Estates Moors for the Future
Funding Following the success of our National Future Funding Team-supported ‘NatureBid’ project, a second round with a much larger FCRM funding stream was facilitated - £300,000 for the Upper Aire Project, together with Leeds FAS National Flood Management programme.
Aire and Calder: Successes
LiveStreaming Leeds delivered river restoration in the Wortley Beck catchment, improving water quality and supporting native crayfish populations. Improving Yorkshire’s Industrial Estates has helped us better understand and address sources of pollution, and has increased environmental awareness throughout industrial and trade sectors.
Projects Better Becks was initiated, focussing on the Middle Aire catchment and Silsden Beck. Initial investigations have been completed to deliver multi-benefits for future years.
Engagement
Connecting the Calder is developing feasibility work for 5 potential weir removals on the River Calder.
The Catchment Partnerships hosted steering groups and wider network meetings, and continued to expand engagement. Both our partnerships are updating Catchment Management Plans, to publish in 2022/23. Citizen Science and volunteer stewardship work by our partners has increased – tackling invasive nonnative species and debris in our rivers and streams, monitoring water quality and reporting pollution levels.
DNAire has completed capital works on 4 fish passes and has seen the delivery of extensive community activity and engagement.
and Calder Case Study Upper Aire Habitat and Land Management Project Partners Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife YorkshireWildPartnershipTroutTrustDalesNational Park Funding Total EA: £70,055 WEIF Outputs 30k trees planted 1200 m in channel features enhanced 600 m bankside features enhanced 55 volunteer days Below: Otterburn Beck Below and Right: Cranefield Beck before and after About
project
Aire the
The Upper Aire Habitat and Land Management Project is a long standing, successful landowner engagement project in the Upper Aire. For over 10 years the project has been working to improve habitat and water quality in the upper catchment, covering 17 waterbodies across more than 356 km². Working with the principles of the catchment-based approach, the project delivers practical interventions to reduce and mitigate diffuse agricultural pollution (sediment and nutrient input from combined effects of erosion, flooding and run off from rural land). Interventions range from buffer strips, hedgerows and fencing, to bank protection
. Project Managers Pete Turner FBG Ineke Jackson - EP
Derwent Streams
ThorntonDerwent-le-Dale
Upland
WFD Status Bad Good Moderate Poor
RyevitaliseDoingMore the
Catchment Info Spanning the peatland uplands to the lowland flood plain, and including several designated sites of international, European and national conservation status. The catchment also spans a large area of Yorkshire’s coastline and Marine Conservation Zones. The catchment is largely rural with a few urban areas and small market towns. Challenges Sedimentation, diffused agricultural pollution and sewage input all influence the diminishingcatchment,the water quality Invasivestatus.species are a significant issues. Signal crayfish are abundant and threaten the future of white-clawed crayfish on the Rye. Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed are also both prevalent.
For
Derwent £144k EA expenditure £970k External funding 16 Partner organisations involved 45 Community events held ▪ 66 km river protected ▪ 2.39 ha habitat created ▪ 25 ha woodland planted ▪ 2.5 ha buffer strip created
Derwent: Successes
Projects Funding Engagement
The Derwent ARK Project - partnership successfully gained funding from Yorkshire Water Biodiversity Enhancement Fund to aid improvements in the numbers of 5 threatened species in the lower Derwent SSSI.
Derwent Upland Streams - Improving water quality & habitats in 8 priority waterbodies at the top of the Derwent catchment. Year 1 delivered walkovers, engagement and riparian improvements on farms in the area. Improving rural land management practices such as agriculture and forestry Doing More for the Derwent – (INNS Treatment). YWT-delivered INNS programme including treatment of Giant Hogweed plants this year. Over 66km of watercourse has been treated. 57 volunteer hours delivered river surveys over 47km of watercourse.
The Catchment Partnerships hosted quarterly meetings for both the partnership board and delivery group. Weekly posts and updates on YDCP social media platforms have shared project highlights across the Derwent Catchment, connecting with stakeholders and members of the public. While volunteering was impacted by Covid-19 in 2021/22, the Partnership facilitated over 175 volunteer Thehours.partnership also inputted directly into the COP 26 affiliated event ‘Zero Carbon Tour’
The Partnership has delivered a funding strategy, highlighting new solutions for core funding of the partnership and will be implemented in 2022.
Ryevitalise – North York Moors-lead project, addressing Water Quality and Environment - working with land managers to improve the aquatic habitat of the Rye, and the rare and threatened species that the river and wider landscape supports; and Water Level Management - harnessing natural flood processes to create a more naturally-functioning river.
Case Study Derwent Upland Streams Partners Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Forestry England North York Moors National Park Funding Total EA: £15,000 WEIF Outputs 880 m riparian fencing installed Project Managers Gail Hammond EP
Derwent
About the project Derwent Upland Streams will run over two years and will be delivered by the Yorkshire Derwent infocussesPartnership.CatchmentTheprojectoneightwaterbodiestheNorthYorkMoorsthat are not achieving good ecological status, with failures attributed to rural land management practices such as agriculture and forestry. A number of walkovers and information gathering have been conducted to identify sites that need improvement, and meetings have been held so advice and guidance can be given to landowners to make them aware of the options available, and the benefits to their land from the work being carried out.
Esk and Coastal Streams £106k EA expenditure 11 Partner organisations involved 6 Community events held ▪ 18k trees planted ▪ 20 me of in-channel features ▪ 2.9 ha of buffer strip created Catchment Info The catchment is comprised almost wholly within the North York Moors National Park, covering a landscape of upland wild heather moorland, deep wooded valleys and estuarine habitats. It also home to sandgrayling,salmon,speciesnationally-importantsuchasAtlanticbrowntrout,brooklamprey,martins,dippers, kingfishers, water voles, otters and extremely rare freshwater pearl mussel. Challenges Sediment andpollutionagriculturalanddiffusedintheuplandmiddlereaches threaten water quality and the preservation of Pearl InfishandimpedethroughoutWeirsMussels.andstructurestheEskrivermorphologyimpactmigratoryspecies.theestuary,chemical pollution from shipping and industry, as well as sewage, threatening water quality and habitats. WFD Status Good Moderate Concrete Coast Esk Coastal Streams Esk Pearl Mussels BEACH Esk Esk Crayfish
Projects Esk Coastal Streams addresses diffused agricultural pollution in 3 coastal streams and obstacles to fish migration in Staithes Beck. This year the project delivered farm interventions limiting riverine pollution and a feasibility report, scoping solutions for fish easement (which will be delivered 2022 onwards).
Esk and Coastal Streams: Successes
Esk Pearl Mussels – successful captive breeding continues for the Pearl Mussels with 50 adult mussels collected from the Esk for new breeding stock. This year we delivered a new Pearl Mussel strategy and 50-Year plan to drive recovery of this endangered species in the Esk.
Projects Funding Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) has funded a project looking into alternative funding options and natural capital in the catchment. This will complete in summer 2022 and will highlight new and innovative future investment opportunities for green finance in the catchment.
Esk Crayfish – Research project to determine if signal crayfish were present in the upper catchment, project found no evidence of signals which is great news for the Pearl Mussels and fish spawning sites.
The Catchment Partnership hosted quarterly meetings for both the partnership steering groups, including the first post-Covid face-to-face visit, and a very successful site visit to Pearl Mussel locations and see farm interventions. The Catchment Partnership website has been updated with winter and spring newsletters planned for 2022/23 onwards.
BEACH Esk – Project delivers on 3 themes: agriculturaldiffused pollution; marine and boat pollution within the estuary; and environmental enhancements to artificial structures in the estuary.
Engagement
BEACH Esk has worked to improve practices and water quality within the estuary, reduce pollution in the estuarine tributaries and create new habitats. The estuary is failing under WFD due to high nitrogen levels and poor fish and invertebrate numbers, all due to poor water quality. We worked with local communities to reduce marine pollution and improve water quality, as well as working with farmers and landowners to reduce pollutants and sedimentation by erecting fencing and planting trees. have also worked to increase saltmarsh habitats and installed artificial habitat in Whitby Harbour.
We
Esk and Coastal Streams Case Study BEACH (Better Estuaries and Coastal Habitats) Esk Partners Groundwork North East Cumbria & Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Funding Total EA: £90,000 WEIF Partner and External: £54,000 Outcomes Reduced pollution entering the estuary Cleaner estuarine tributaries Improved habitats Improved community engagement Better working practices in and around the Improvedestuary farming practices Below: Tree planting in the estuarine tributaries Above: Oil and Fuel engagement event Outputs 1300 trees planted 520 m of fencing installed 18 volunteer days Project Managers Allison Pierre EP
Yorkshire Coast Catchment
WFD Status Moderate Concrete Coast
Climate Change, sea-level rise and coastal erosion threaten habitat and coastal communities.
The Yorkshire coast covers 320 kilometres and spans the two marine Water bodies; Yorkshire North and Yorkshire South. Both are considered Heavily Modified waterbodies. This is the only Catchment with marine inshore water bodies in Yorkshire. The partnership was established in 2020 to provide specialistdedicatedpartnership for marine and coastal interests. Challenges Flood and Coastal Erosions assets as well as a multitude of quality.inlanddiffusedSedimentModifiedcauseanthropogenicotherstructuresthistobeaHeavilyWaterbody,andagricultural-pollutionfromimpactwater
£40K EA expenditure 14 Partner organisations involved ▪ 320km marine water body managed ▪ Innovative mitigationengineeringgreenand ▪ Creating new intertidal habitat Catchment Info
The Catchment Partnership hosted quarterly meetings, including face-to-face workshops to discuss the natural capital of our coastline. Catchment Partnership terms of reference, catchment management plan and strategy, project development plan and website have all been created. The partnership work closely with the Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership to manage the Yorkshire Coast and develop the future of the YCCP.
Yorkshire Coast Catchment Partnership: Successes
Project Concrete Coast – This pioneering landscape project is the first of its kind on the Yorkshire Coast. The project will mitigate the impact of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCRM) assets and other anthropogenic structures on the Yorkshire coast by adding environmental enhancements to the assets. It will help mitigate the heavily-modified waterbody status whilst maintaining and complementing FCRM assets.
In the long-term, this will increase biodiversity, carbon sequestration and provide more opportunities for coastal wildlife. It will support improvements of the Heavily-Modified waterbody status of the coastline
Engagement
The Yorkshire coast covers 320 kilometres and spans the two marine Yorkshire Coastal Water bodies, Yorkshire North and Yorkshire South. The Yorkshire Coast Catchment Partnership (YCCP) was established in 2020 to share expertise, skills and local knowledge for the benefit of our important marine and coastal environment. CaBA funding and recognition of the partnership was secured for the group in 2021.
The Catchment
Funding CaBA partnership funding and recognition of the partnership was secured for the group in 2021. This provided really valuable support to the group. Funding for 2022 onwards is unconfirmed at present.
.
Challenges The areas history has left behind a legacy of weirs and urbanised sections. The lower reaches have been heavily modified for drainage and flood Adaptingprotection.to climate change is a challenge, made evident during 2019 floods. This focussed attention on the importance of working with the landscape to deliver nature based solutions to reduce flood risk, improve habitat & improve water quality.
Catchment Info The main rivers of the catchment Don, Rother, and Dearne produce a very varied geography flowing from the uplands of the South Pennines through the urban and once heavily industrialised areas of Chesterfield,Sheffield,Rotherham and Barnsley towards the lowlands Doncasteraroundandonwards to the River Ouse
Don and Rother £153k EA expenditure £8k External funding 20 Partner organisations involved 18 Community events held ▪ 300m channelenhancedfeatures ▪ 1.2ha enhanced wetlands ▪ 2 weir removals WFD Status Good Moderate Poor
Dearne Valley Green Heart 2 River Rother Tributaries Sheaf and Porter Restoration Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership Rotherham Resto 3 Living Went
The Connected by Water plan for S. Yorkshire was launched in January, and is a living document bringing together key stakeholders to reduce flood risk and improve climate resilience on the catchment-scale.
Projects Hidden Heritage Secret Streams project has continued to deliver a wide range of benefits to the River Rother catchment - designing a large NFM scheme, creating habitat and retaining water on Grassmoor Country Park, and an extensive volunteer programme delivering leaky dams, improving public access, and more.
Engagement
Living Went: The Water and Environment Grantfunded project completed its programme of river restoration and diffuse pollution measures improving in-channel and bankside habitats, creating wetland areas and riparian tree-planting.
Don and Rother: Successes
We will continue to engage with communities and businesses as part of this. Supported by Yorkshire Water funding, the Don Catchment Rivers Trust have recruited a Catchment Partnership Officer who we will work with to strengthen stakeholder involvement and extend partnership working.
Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership are delivering their ongoing programme of nature-based solutions in the upland areas of west Sheffield. The projects experiences have been used to develop work for the Upper Don NFM scheme, an Environmental Land Management pilot assessing ecosystem services delivery on farmland and commitment to partnership-working.
Funding EP have been working with PSO to develop Upper Don NFM pilot projects for Source to Sea NBS programme. Funded through the FCRM accelerated funding scheme, delivery has started on the Limb Brook in partnership with Sheffield City Council and Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. Further phases have also been developed working with farmers and on woodlands around Stocksbridge.
Reducedlevels.
Hallam University carried out a monitoring programme to assess the effectiveness of our NFM measures, and these findings were fed into developing further NFM measures.
integration
Sheffield. River and wetland habitats created. L-R voles.poolsdamstrainee;buffertowalkers;damagedrepairPoolsClockwise:createdtopeatlandbyFencingcreateriparianzonebyWTLeakycreatingforwater Project Managers Kirsty Welch - EP
Don and Rother Case Study causing WFD pH flood risk and providing evidence for further NFM measures into wider flood risk reduction in
Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership Partners Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust Sheffield City Council Yorkshire Water Hallam University Funding Total EA: £20,000 WEIF Partner and External: £600,000 Outcomes Reduced pressures
About the project This partnership was set up as waterbodies were failing to meet WFD standards. Land use pressures were significant factors in poor pH, invertebrate and fish numbers. After extensive engagement with farmers, the works were successful in reducing surface run-off, and thus reducing sedimentation and acidification, and slowing the flow to reduce flood risk.
failures for invertebrates, fish and
WestRestorationWoldsSlow the Flow Hull’s Dynamic Drains Chalkshire
Hull and East Riding
£522k EA expenditure £104k External funding 18 Partner organisations involved 88 Volunteer days ▪ 5k trees planted ▪ 12ha wetlandsenhanced ▪ 11km enhanced banksides
The Hull & East Riding catchment is largely rural with larger conurbations of Hull, Bridlington and Beverley. The landscape is one of two halves, the rolling chalk hills of the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds carve through the spine of the area and the much flatter fertile and productive areas of Holderness and Foulness Valleys. Challenges The area has a high number of lowland pumped drains which flow very slowly. Coupled with the high incidence of nutrient rich run-off and high sediment in flows leads to a very challenging set of issues we need to tackle to improve the water environment. The Chalk and the watercourses it feeds are under appreciated and often forgotten. environmentally,economically,Importanthistorically,recreationally, yet often taken for granted and at risk of pollution, overabstraction and anthropogenic modification.
Gypsey Race Restoration Harmonising the Headwaters of the River Hull River Hull Headwaters SSSI
Catchment Info
WorkingLandscape.inpartnership with Birdseye and their pea growers, a study was undertaken to understand the benefits of wild flower seed mixes being sewn on the field headlands. Headland soil is notoriously poor quality and requires high amounts of fertilisers to grow crops. Growing wild flowers helps to improve soil carbon and so improving nutrient management, and in addition, boosts biodiversity. Working with Birdseye helps to highlight the benefits of collaborating with large businesses, hopefully driving changes that will be sustainable into the future. 4 Dew Ponds were restored in the Chalk landscape. Though not directly connected to our official waterbodies, Dew Ponds offer a really good example of how ‘Chalkshire’ is trying to look across sector at the landscape. Linking together biodiversity work, historic landscape and heritage interests and how people used the land, where their water comes from and links with the chalk streams that dry up in low flows.
Hull and East Riding: Successes
Engagement
In addition, 3 farming advisor events were held. These events targeted key messages around water and the link between the chalk geology and water availability and water quality all being discussed, alongside changes in farming landscapes such as livestock versus arable. We also carried out opportunity mapping of baseline species, habitats and map opportunities for the protection and enhancement of 3 chalk streams.
During its first year of funding there has been targeted community engagement and working with schools to help in understanding their local waterbodies. Opportunity mapping has also taken place across the project area to identify sites to use nature based interventions that will deliver multiple benefits, such as reducing nutrient run-off, enhancing biodiversity, and slowing the flow of water to places that have traditionally flooded.
Chalkshire: Building upon the investigatory and feasibility works undertaken in 20 21, the project set out to prove that the interventions identified could be scaled up across the Chalkshire
Projects Leven Canal: De-silting was undertaken along the Leven Canal SSSI to make habitat improvements. This year delivered 1.6 km of designated SSSI improvements.
West Wolds Slow the Flow:
The first year of a study to improve our understanding of what is driving the poor status of the drains in East Yorkshire. Starting with the Winestead drain, the project has been sampling water and sediment to understand what the biggest pressures are that affect the drain. In addition, there have been projects to improve the habitat and morphology of Watton Beck. Walkovers and desilting have been carried out of Beverley and Barmston Drain to continue its road to improvement. Further feasibility studies have been carried out on Driffield Trout stream to develop further meander restoration work.
Holderness Nutrification:
Part 2: monitoring the environmental benefits and sustainability of different cropping techniques to reduce surface field run-off – ongoing into 2022/23. Partners Albanwise Ltd. Funding Total EA Expenditure: £90,000 Outcomes Tiered run-off capture pond system created to reduce sediment and nutrient run off. 140 km of habitat created. 2 km of river restored
Hull and East Riding Case Study
Gypsey Race Catchment Improvement Project Managers Richard Jennings - FBG
The Gypsey Race is Britain’s Most Northerly Chalk Stream, winding its way from Duggleby to Bridlington. The river has been impacted by sedimentation and pollutants, amongst other problems, which have affected fish and invertebrate Thenumbers.project is split into two stages:
Part 1 – Planting the right species will attract more wildlife – as flowering grassland in dry months and a wetland in winter, when the river may also overflow the area. The installation of a runoff capture swale / pond to reduce silts and nutrients entering the Gypsey Race, which will enhance the river corridor.
Project
About the project
WFD Status High Good Moderate Bad Poor
Catchment Info
The headwaters of the natural Rivers Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe originate in the Yorkshire Dales, flowing through mostly rural areas. Heavily modified rivers of the Wiske and Foss dominate the lowland areas. The catchments drain into the River Ouse, winding through the historic city of York. The River Wharfe joins the Ouse just downstream and for most of its course, forms the boundary between North and West Yorkshire.
Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse and Wharfe (SUNOW)
£164k EA expenditure £66k External funding 10 Partner organisations involved 30 Volunteer days ▪ 1.5km banksidesenhanced ▪ 9ha improved peatlands ▪ 5 weir removals
Challenges The SUNOW makes up 40% of Yorkshire, so the required scale of improvements and investment is enormous. Historic weir structures limit fish migration up the priority salmonid rivers; Wharfe and Swale. Nutrient rich soil is eroding into our rivers across the catchment exacerbating flood risk, creating water quality problems and loss of habitat. Sewage treatment continues to pose a challenge to the water environment. Fish to the Friars iWharfe Rivers in Elmet Keep Ure Rivers Cool River Wharfe SSSI York Urban Becks INNS Out! Swale Wetlands
Projects Fish passes: Feasibility is progressing well as we work with PCM to develop fish passes at Addingham and Hunsingore EA gauging weirs. We are also delighted with the progress of feasibility for a replacement fish pass as Tadcaster weir and are working in close collaboration with the Tadcaster FAS team to ensure integrated delivery.
Funding EP supported external funding bids include £350k Yorkshire Water Match funding for Tadcaster fish pass and £150k for Addingham Lower fish pass. Huge thanks to Neil Trudgill in FBG for securing these FCRM GiA was secured to ensure continuation of the Foss Catchment Project, Wharfe SSSI and our fish pass projects. We also secured seed funding for INNS Out and Swale Wetlands project from Asset Performance’s Biodiversity Fund, who also continue to financially support the Bishop Dyke nitrate reduction project. We thank FCRM in Yorkshire for their continued faith and investment in the Environment Programme.
SUNOW: Successes
Conclusion of 3 Water Environment Grant Projects for sediment reduction at the Crimple, and in Stank Beck at Harewood Estate, and habitat restoration in the Wild Wiske Revival project, thanks to Headwaters for Healthy Rivers Projects. We also conclude 3 North Yorkshire NFM projects at Brompton, Bishopdale and Backstone Beck, ensuring huge investment and pioneering methods in natural management of flood risk in local areas. Continued delivery of flagship WEIF projects Rivers in Elmet, York Urban Becks, iWharfe and our new Keeping Ure Rivers Cool project in Wensleydale.
Engagement
Refresh of the SUNOW Catchment Pages in the RBMP, highlighting new and emerging environmental challenges The Yorkshire Catchment Hub meetings supported by EP and attended by Catchment Partnership hosts continues to provide a forum for sharing and engaging with partners to enable future Quarterlycollaboration. Integrated Catchment Delivery Meetings continue despite staff changes in EP and we encourage you to contact us for an invitation if you work in the SUNOW.
SUNOW Case Study in Elmet carbon sequestration and habitats tree- and hedge-planting and vegetation on buffer strips. (above) and After (below) of Cock Beck as a result of fencing installation
Project Managers Simon Stokes - EP
Outputs 1 km of buffer strips 370 m native hedging 400 trees planted 5 volunteer days 2 leaky dams installed Before
About the project This project addresses sediment and nutrient pollution across five failing or deteriorated waterbodies. All five include agriculture and rural land management as the major sectors contributing to their failing status. The project included farm engagement to reduce sediment and nutrient run-off, river litter picks, installation of leaky dams, and work to increase buffer strips by installing fencing and riparian tree and hedge planting.
Partners Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust Leeds City Council Funding Total EA: £30,000 WEIF Partner and external: £25,600 Outcomes Reduced sediment and nutrients entering watercourses. Increased
Rivers
through
increased
Thanks for reading! If you would like to know more about or work, please contact one of our catchment coordinators • Aire & Calder: Rachel.Kipling@environment-agency.gov.uk • Don & Rother: Anthony.Downing@environment-agency.gov.uk • Derwent, Esk & Coast: Victoria.Murray@environmentagency.gov.uk • Hull, E. Riding & Humber: Amanda.Foster@environmentagency.gov.uk To discuss our wider work, please contact the Environment Programme managers: • Claire.Tunningley@environment-agency.gov.uk • Gail.Hammond@environment-agency.gov.uk
Dongria Kondh
Her legacy continues through Treesponsibility, and the Dongria Kondh bursary which supports natural flood management research.
On the anniversary in 2021, there was a small celebration of Don’s life. One of the landowners named a wood that Don planted after him. A plaque was created and a couple of farmers put it in and planted some snowdrops around so they’d come up every year around the anniversary.
Dongria was one of our partners and a dedicated environmental campaigner. She founded non-profit Treesponsibility in the late-90s, dedicated to raising awareness about climate change and reforestation in the Calder Valley area of West Yorkshire where she lived, and she later became a strong advocate for natural flood defences.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/02/dongria kondh obituary
Don Vine
In March 2020, just at the start of lockdown Don Vine sadly passed away. Don worked for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and was one of our well loved colleagues who had worked on the Upper Aire Project for nearly ten years.
In Memory…
Photo credits – our Project Mangers and Catchment Coordinators AlbanWise Ltd – Aerial photo of Gypsey Race, page 26 Yorkshire Wildlife Trust – BEACH Esk photos, page 18 Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust – Sheffield Lakelands, page 23
