Press Release: Groundwork Yorkshire Secures Water Restoration Fund

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Grant to Revitalise Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire

Groundwork Yorkshire has secured a significant development grant from the Water Restoration Fund to protect and enhance Hornsea Mere, Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake and one of the region’s most important wildlife habitats.

The historic Mere, situated within the Wassand Hall estate, faces mounting environmental challenges including deteriorating water quality, invasive non-native species, development pressures and recreational use.  As an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SPA (Special Protection Area), this vital ecosystem urgently requires coordinated management to safeguard its diverse habitats and wildlife.

Groundwork Yorkshire has collaborated with the Wassand Hall estate trustees to build partnerships with relevant agencies and landowners.  This newly secured funding will enable a comprehensive, landscape-scale approach to restoration through detailed data collection, partnership development, and the creation of a strategic Action Plan for the entire catchment area.

Peter Murphy, Operations Director for Groundwork Yorkshire, expressed his enthusiasm: “Hornsea Mere is an important area for wildlife and especially waterfowl, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to work collaboratively on the production of a development plan for the Mere and its catchment, with a view to securing further funding to deliver meaningful and long-lasting changes to benefit the local area and enhance its wildlife value.”

The project will deploy a specialist team including an ecologist, landscape architect, and project coordinator under the leadership of Karen Tozer, Groundwork’s Programme Manager for Hull and East Riding.  Local landscape operatives will be employed to undertake practical conservation work, including the removal of invasive species, while community volunteers will be engaged in hands-on restoration activities and awareness initiatives.

Local residents and wildlife enthusiasts concerned about the future of this treasured landscape are encouraged to get involved. The project team has established a dedicated contact email for enquiries: hornsea.mere@groundwork.org.uk.

Hornsea Mere
Hornsea Mere
Hornsea Mere

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

 

  • Hornsea Mere is Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake, comprising wetlands, woodlands and meadows that support numerous bird species and notable plant communities.
  • The site has protected status as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SPA (Special Protection Area).
  • For further information, images or interview requests, please contact hornsea.mere@groundwork.org.uk.

To find out more please contact: Karen Tozer, Programme Manager, karen.tozer@groundwork.org.uk

Find out more about Groundwork  https://www.groundwork.org.uk/yorkshire/

ABOUT GROUNDWORK

 

Groundwork Yorkshire

Groundwork Yorkshire. Groundwork Yorkshire has been working for 30 years where we’re needed most – on the ground in communities, delivering hundreds of projects every year.  We provide training and create jobs, reduce energy and waste, re-connect people with nature and transform whole neighbourhoods. Step by step we’ll go on changing places and changing lives until everywhere is vibrant and green, every community is strong enough to shape its own destiny and everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.  Environment and Business Centre, Merlyn-Rees Avenue, Morley, Leeds LS27 9SL T: 0300 3033 292

Groundwork UK

Groundwork is a charity working locally and nationally to transform lives in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. We’re passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny and no one is held back by their background or circumstances. We help people gain confidence and skills, get into training and work, protect and improve green spaces, lead more active lives and overcome significant challenges such as poverty, isolation, low skills and poor health: www.groundwork.org.uk

 

ABOUT WATER RESTORATION FUND

The Water Restoration Fund is provided by the UK Government and administered through the DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency.

The Water Restoration Fund has up to £11 million to fund local projects. The Fund will be used to restore and enhance the water environment in specified geographical areas, using environmental fines and penalties collected from water and sewerage companies in those areas between April 2022 and October 2023.

A successful project under this Fund must focus on improving and preventing further deterioration of the water environment in the geographical regions where the fines and penalties were issued. This includes supporting:

  • water bodies to return to good ecological status, ecological potential, or chemical status; or prevent further deterioration from the current ecological status, ecological potential, or chemical status
  • water-dependent protected sites to return to or remain at favourable condition
  • the restoration of other water-dependent habitats and species especially where action supports restoration of associated protected sites or water bodies

For further information about the Water Restoration Fund please follow the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-restoration-fund-guidance-for-applicants/about-the-water-restoration-fund