Groundwork Yorkshire has secured a significant development grant from the Water Restoration Fund to protect and enhance Hornsea Mere.
The Mere is 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
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.
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