Biodiversity projects, according to the Landfill Communities Fund are those that deliver biodiversity conservation for UK priority species or habitats. The GBN has worked closely with local organisations to create a number of biodiversity projects.
One of the biodiversity project winners from our tenth anniversary awards, illustrate the types of projects that we have got involved with:
Calderdale Seeds Project, a project to regenerate Calderdale’s haymeadows
A unique project is underway to help restore traditional species-rich hay meadows which are not cut until mid July onwards. The scheme won a £10,000 Tenth Anniversary Award from Sowerby Bridge’s Green Business Network (GBN) to help protect the Twite, one of the most endangered bird species in England.
The main area where Twite breed in England is the South Pennines with several key colonies on the tops surrounding Hebden Bridge. Here, the birds nest in areas of bracken or heather in the unenclosed land at the edges of moors. To breed successfully they need enclosed grassland immediately downslope from the open moor (in-bye farmland) that can provide enough food for them to raise a brood, preferably species-rich hay meadows.
Work began early in May 2007 when a specialist alpine tractor and rotary harrow applied a seed mix to 5 fields at 4 smallholding sites next to the moorland edge around Midgley. By early June the first signs of germination could already be seen. The seed was gathered from carefully matched sites, one in Midgley itself and two in North Yorkshire. By 2008 th project had worked with 7 landowners to improve 12ha of land.
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| Project Coordinator Ann Blackburn takes a hands on approach to spreading the seed |
Nick Carter, Chairman of Calderdale Bird Conservation Group said “we are grateful for the enthusiasm, involvement and encouragement of local landowners whose cooperation in providing access to their land is vital to the success of the project”.
Anyone in the initial target area of Midgley/Luddenden Dean who would like to join the project, please contact us
Other biodiversity projects include:
- Ringstone Improvement Project, the first purpose designed nature reserve in the area, for a wading bird of national significance, supported by Marshalls plc, Hanson Environment Fund, Yorkshire Water and the RSPB Regional Office. We have produced a case study of this project: LRP Case Study final.pdf
- Balsam Eradication at the source of the River Calder in association with Calder Future.
- Protecting Pennine Peregrines, supported by Marshalls plc.
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| The Ringstone Improvement Project |
