The Environment Agency has worked together with partners to invest £5.59m in environmental improvements across Yorkshire in 2020/21.

Photo: Skirfare tree planting

More than 100km of river has been improved as part of the Environment Agency’s programme of environmental improvements across Yorkshire.

The programme, which includes more than 40 projects, has led to the creation or improvement of 570 hectares of habitat, while 36,000 trees have been planted.

Projects include removing barriers to fish movement, river 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 figures have been released during the Environment Agency’s #WaterWarriors campaign, which launched last week and urges people to consider how their actions can affect water quality and take action to protect blue spaces for everyone.

Delivered by Catchment Partnerships

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.

This year’s £5.59 million programme involved 85 partners who contributed more than £2.5 million in funding to the projects. Next year the programme will be even bigger with investment increasing to more than £6 million, helping to build a resilient and green future for the region.

Photo: Kirkstall weir fish pass

Key projects progressed in 2020/21 include:

• The £2.35 million DNAire project, which will open up 60km of the River Aire to fish, is moving towards completion and will see salmon return to the river for the first time in 150 years.
• Live Streaming Leeds has delivered river restoration in the Wortley Beck catchment, improving water quality.
• Derwent Villages Natural Flood Management has seen 149 interventions to reduce flood risk, 7km of enhanced river and 17 hectares of new habitat created.
• The Hidden Heritage Secret Streams project has seen the weir at Slitting Mill removed opening up around 9km of the River Rother for fish.
• Pulfin bog habitat improvement and creation project this year delivered 8.5 hectares of designated SSSI improvements and 250m of river improvements.
• A natural flood management project at Bishopdale saw over 35,000 trees and 7km of hedging planted.
• The first phase of York Urban Becks river restoration project at Hull Park Road to remove silt from behind 3 weirs at Osbaldwick Beck and then lower the height of the weirs has started to create a more natural river course.
• DeliverY of over 100 hectares of blanket bog restoration working in large landscape partnerships which will reduce carbon release to the atmosphere as well as reducing flood risk and water quality issues downstream.
• The Trees for the Skirfare and Dales to Vales River Network riparian tree planting schemes saw more than 13,000 trees planted to helpd reduce diffuse pollution and provide habitat.
• Bumper programme

Oliver Harmar, Yorkshire Area Director for the Environment Agency, said:

“This year’s bumper environment programme has seen the completion of some major projects across the county, reinforcing our commitment to creating better places in Yorkshire for people and wildlife.

“The Environment Agency’s #WaterWarriors campaign is highlighting the work our teams do on a daily basis to monitor and improve water quality. The programme showcases a wide array of projects that bring to life our drive to achieve a resilient and green future for Yorkshire, and our partners are integral to its success.”