Winner – Environment and Culture category

Summary

The creation of a 20 ha wetland on a riverside meadow within the town of Pershore, enhancing biodiversity, treating stormwater, assisting flood alleviation and providing a new community asset.

The local community actively helped design the wetland and now run regular work parties to maintain and enhance this amenity.

Overview

The 20 ha Avon Meadows form part of the floodplain of the River Avon and are owned by Wychavon District Council (WDC) and Pershore Town Council (PTC).

Wychavon and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust conceived the wetland idea and it was taken forward through the Pershore Market Towns Partnership (PMTP) in February 2008.  It was seen as a community project from the start.

The first stage involved two Open Days at Cherry Orchard School (which backs onto the meadows) to invite ideas from local residents.  Many helpful suggestions were received and warm endorsement given to the wetland concept.

The final wetland design has three areas:

1. A 4.5 ha wetland, with raised water level and sluice control, designed for a wide variety of aquatic habitat, fed by stormwater from the nearby housing estate.  This is treated in a settlement pond before entering the main wetland.
2. A meadow with ditches and wetland areas maintained by dams
3. A meadow with wet scrapes

Earthworks were carried out in September 2008.  This included bund formation, pond and ditch creation and re-profiling, dams, sluices and headwalls and the diversion of a public sewer.

Further elements to be completed by July 2009 include:

1. Planting of 26,000 reeds and 50 trees to establish the habitats
2. A boardwalk made from recycled materials across the wetland
3. A bird observation hide

Pershore Horticultural College is growing the reeds and a wide range of people and organisations will be involved in planting them.

Need, purpose and community involvement

Need

• A new management framework after Countryside Stewardship
• Recreate wetland habitat in the Avon and Severn valleys
• Improve a local community amenity

Objectives

• Create new wetland habitat, enhancing biodiversity
• Assist flood alleviation
• Treat stormwater runoff, reducing river pollution
• Community involvement in a new community asset

Community Involvement

• PMTP organized a steering group
• Mailshots to 200 houses near the Meadows
• Two Open Days at the adjacent Cherry Orchard First School
• Establishing ‘Friends of Avon Meadows’ as trained volunteer wardens running regular work parties and carrying out finishing tasks on the wetland.  They will have a major role in the reed planting and subsequent maintenance.

Building for the Future

• Worcestershire Wildlife Trust will develop the site’s wildlife value advising on management.
• Pershore Horticultural College has grown the reeds free of charge and, in the process, developed a new training and commercial opportunity.
• At least 100 people from a wide range of organizations will be involved in the reed planting.
• The four local schools and Pershore Horticultural College are keen to use the wetland for nature and ecological studies.

Other benefits

• A 1.6 km circular walk has been created and is already widely used by the community including the Walking for Health group.
• The project is an element of the 2009 Pershore in Bloom application.

The Wychavon Way is being re-routed through the meadows and the wetlands providing economic benefit by attracting visitors to Pershore.

Innovation, learning points and transferability

Innovative

• Community involvement and ownership throughout
• Recreating wetland habitat within the town
• Assisting flood alleviation
• Treating stormwater
• Use of recycled plastic boardwalk
• Community use central to design
• Growing our own reeds at the Horticultural College

High Standards

• Raised footway created for year round access
• Wide range of ecological niches created by design
• Management Plan produced at outset
• Public safety for walkers ensured through improved visibility

Learning

• Importance of community ownership and value of partnerships
• Identifying and quantifying potential problems early
• Importance of partnership in attracting funding

Transferability

• Recognising potential for wetlands
• Approach to community participation
• Design to draw in potential partners
• Importance of long term management plan

Funding, future financial viability and outcomes

Project Funding

• Wychavon District Council: £30,000
• Natural England (via Wetlands West): £55,000
• Environment Agency: £20,000
• Pershore MTP: £2,000
• Severn Trent Water: £15,000 in kind
• Worcestershire Wildlife Trust: £5,000 in kind

Future Costs (estimated)

• Replacement fittings / planting (WDC): £500 p.a.
• Annual maintenance (WDC/PTC): £2,000 p.a.
• Training, equipment etc. for the ‘Friends’: £250 p.a.

Measurable Outcomes

• Bird counts
• Otter sightings
• Increased visitor numbers to the wetland and the town
• Activities by the Friends
• Use by Schools

Key partners

• Wychavon District Council
• Pershore Town Council
• Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
• The Local Community
• Environment Agency
• Natural England
• Wetlands West
• Pershore Horticultural College
• Severn Trent Water

But over the years, the walk had become dilapidated and a group of local people – the Friends of Haltwhistle Burn – approached Haltwhistle Partnership to act as the lead agent in taking a project forward to restore the area and make it more accessible.

Summary :

A walk along the Burn is a trip back in time. Roman Britain is represented by the Wall complex as well as the numerous temporary camps and the Haltwhistle Burn fortlet. More modern times are shown by the remains of the woollen mills, quarries and coal mines as well as the path itself which was a wagonway from Cawfields Quarry.

The restoration aimed to provide a well-maintained path with access for local people, educational groups and tourists and to interpret and protect the rich biodiversity and the industrial archaeological remains for future generations to experience and enjoy.

Work included the replacement of three footbridges, the resurfacing of 1.65km of footpaths, creation of car parking, putting in three kilometres of fencing, repairing 20 metres of dry-stone walls, installing seven kissing gates and three field gates and reinforcing 60m of banks with rock armour and gabion baskets.

Throughout the project the aim was to provide a high quality restoration that would endure for future generations to use. The three footbridges were all hand built using the best quality natural materials and installed with care and minimum disruption to wildlife, bird and fish habitats, the pathways were resurfaced to a top quality natural finish and the boundaries carefully restored.

The involvement of the Northumberland National Park staff who freely gave their expertise to oversee the capital works ensured a good result

Key partners: Haltwhistle Partnership Ltd, Haltwhistle Town Council, Northumberland National Park, Tynedale District Council, Northumberland County Council, Friends of Haltwhistle Burn.

Keywords: restoration