Calder Future | About
About
Established in 1998 - so in 2008 we are celebrating our 10th anniversary - Calder Future is a partnership which aims to improve the river Calder, its tributaries and its bankside. The partnership provides a framework to facilitate the involvement of its members and the public. If you have a good idea or project, and share our aim we would like you to join in.
Our project manager is Emma Griffiths; Volunteers Coordinator is Gavin Roberts. We're based in the offices of the Green Business network in Sowerby Bridge. Contact us on 01422 316661 or send an email using the Contact Form.
The Calder flows through three local authority areas of West Yorkshire: Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Calder Future was started in Calderdale, but covers the whole length of the river and the whole catchment. Each of the three local authority areas has its own version of Calder Future, targeting slightly different aspects of the objectives listed below.
In Calderdale, the Calder Future partners are the local community, with Calderdale Council, Calderdale Friends of the Earth, Green Business Network, Nothern Naturefriends, The Environment Agency, Calder Future Ltd, British Waterways, Halifax Canoe Club, Treesponsibility and Yorkshire Water.
We have produced a case study of the Calder Future project. To access it, please click here.
The objectives of Calder Future include:
- Sustainability: To secure the long-term improvement of the River Calder, its tributaries and bankside as an asset to the communities through which it passes.
- Ecology: To protect and enhance the wildlife that depends on the river and to implement specific initiatives to achieve this.
- Investment: To increase awareness of the river as a valuable regeneration asset to the area and its communities.
- Accessibility: Over the long term to increase the accessibility of the River Calder and its bankside for leisure and education uses.
- Community activity and participation: To organise an annual programme of activities and to encourage funding and sponsorship for these activities.
- Communications: To communicate to a wide range of people, organisations and companies the opportunity to participate in projects and plans for future improvement of the River Calder and to advertise successes to date.
Mini Calder Futures
To date the three geographic areas that Calder Future has been involved with on a long term regular basis have been Sowerby Bridge , Todmorden and Brighouse. In all instances funding has been provided to make on the ground improvements to the river/canal environment. This work has been undertaken by local volunteers.
The effectiveness of the River Calder Day shows that many communities want to get involved on the ground with improvements to their local area and are willing to get their hands dirty at this annual event. We want to provide an opportunity for this work to continue and are actively seeking groups that would like our assistance in setting up projects that can be on going throughout the year.
Biodiversity Action Plan
During 2004 we took a lead role in development of a local habitat action plan for the rivers and streams in Calderdale. We were guided by Calderdale's Ecology and Conservation Officer and the Environment Agencies Biodiversity Officer. If you are interested in having a look at the Habitat Action Plan, please click here.
We are hoping to get Biodiversity Action Plan's from all of our partners. You can find Yorkshire Water's by clicking here.