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12 October 2009
National recognition for scheme that benefits Northamptonshire wetlands
The Wildlife Trust for Northamptonshire has received a top plaudit for its work to improve habitat for local wildlife.
The Nene Valley Project was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Natural Environment category in the national Biffaward Awards held in Harrogate on Thursday 8 October.
The £42,909 grant from Biffaward paid for improvements to wetland habitats at Summer Leys, near Northampton and Storton’s Pits, Barnes Meadow and Kingsthorpe Meadow – all in Northampton. All these wetland habitats support a range of rare wildlife including otters, water vole, great crested newts and provide habitat for wetland birds.
Community events were organised to involve local people and the grant also paid for botanical monitoring at the sites and new bird hides and the creation of a new wetland habitat (scrape) at Summer Leys.
Jane Pearman, reserves manager for Northamptonshire, said, “The new scrape at Summer Leys created a series of ditches and islands to make the area more inviting for wading birds and since its completion Little Ringed Plovers had the best ever breeding season on the reserve this year. We’re really excited that the reed bed improvements at Storton’s pits have been rewarded with the attention of a rare visiting Bittern. I’m really pleased that our hard work has been recognised by Biffaward”
Susan Thompson, grants officer for Northamptonshire, collected the award from Tony Richardson, the South West regional director for the RSPB.
ENDS
For more information please see our website www.wildlifebcnp.org or contact Bernadette Mooney, Communications Officer on 01954 713552.
Notes:
The Nene Valley Project had three aims:
- To create and enhance wetland habitats at four nature reserves.
- To undertake proactive work with planners and developers within 5km of the four nature reserves to ensure future development recognises the importance of the biodiversity in the areas.
- To raise awareness of the importance of wetland sites for recreation and conservation and enabling the whole community to enjoy the reserves.
About the Trust:
Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust’s mission. We manage 129 nature reserves - all of them free to visit – and 95% of the population live within five miles of one of our reserves. We are working to make these wildlife havens bigger, better and more joined-up – vital to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners the Trust also monitors and safeguards wildlife beyond the boundary of its reserves.
For more information see www.wildlifebcnp.org
About Biffaward
In 1997 Biffa Waste Services agreed to donate landfill tax credits to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) to administer under the fund name Biffaward. Grants made from the fund currently amount to £100 million, supporting many worthwhile projects.
Biffa Waste Services Limited is one of the largest single suppliers of waste management services in the UK. It collects, treats, recovers and disposes of municipal, commercial and industrial waste nationwide. It is ultimately owned by a private equity consortium comprising Montagu Private Equity, Global Infrastructure Partners, Uberior Co-Investments Limited and other co-investors.
The landfill tax came into operation in 1996. Its purpose is to reflect the impact of landfill on the environment and also to help achieve the targets for more sustainable waste management. The tax, levied on the tonnage of all material disposed of in landfill sites and collected by Biffa on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs, aims to encourage recycling and reduce waste by raising the cost of disposal.
The regulations allow landfill site operators to direct approximately 6% of the tax they have collected towards approved environmental projects. However, any approved project can only receive 90% of its desired funding from the landfill tax. The remainder must come direct from the landfill site operator or from a third party organisation or company.
www.biffaward.org