Anglian Water has joined forces with the Freshwater Habitats Trust and the Environment Agency to launch a five-year project aimed at enhancing natural habitats and biodiversity across farmland in Pitsford, Northhamptonshire.
The Water Friendly Farming project will take place in three phases in collaboration with local farmers who have given access to their land for teams to assess the current biodiversity in the area. During the first phase of the project surveys will be undertaken looking at species, water quality and the hydrology of the catchment area.
After this, the team will work with farmers to add new features to the landscape, like ponds and leaky dams, a natural solution for flood management. Assessments will follow to understand how these measures work to help enhance the water quality in the area.
Anglian Water’s Catchment Advisor, Georgina Wallis said: “It is great to be able to work with local farmers in a new and innovative way, understanding how landscape-scale water-friendly farming outcomes can fit with productive agriculture, in one of our key drinking water catchments. Our region is a breadbasket for UK cereal production, so demonstrating how our two industries can work hand in hand to better the environment is a route we are keen to pursue.”
Pitsford Water Friendly Farming will be able to answer important questions such as: Can clean water ponds increase wetland plant diversity?, Does the addition of woody material in stream increase habitat for freshwater invertebrates? And can leaky dams slow the flow reducing flood peaks during storm events?
Answers to questions like these are essential in guiding future land management and conservation work, ensuring the best gains can be delivered for wildlife and local communities.
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