Written By: Melanie Edmunds
On Date: 1/2/2006
A community project in Norfolk has created an award-winning wildlife-rich river valley, according to the judges of a major conservation award. The Little Ouse Headwaters Project beat a record number of entries this year to win the prestigious RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award, announced today at an evening reception on the eve of the annual World Wetlands Day conference in London.
The winning project aims to tackle two centuries of radical changes to the course of the Little Ouse which saw the river channel deepened and much of the valley converted to arable farmland. It will restore a continuous corridor of wildlife habitat along the headwaters of the river as well as enhance the beauty and recreation value of the valley for the local community.
Already this has benefited a huge range of wildlife including the rare Nathusius’s Pipistrelle bat as well as frogs, newts, lizards and snakes. The project will also secure the future of birds of High Conservation Concern such as turtle dove, song thrush, spotted flycatcher, marsh tit, bullfinch and reed bunting. The hope for the future is that the new wetlands will also help prevent floods and improve the quality of the water.
The project was founded by members of five parishes and is run by local volunteers of all ages. Dr Jo-Anne Pitt, chair of the project partnership said: "We are delighted by this award. The LOHP is working within the local community to protect a unique landscape and its wildlife. We are a voluntary organisation with no paid staff, so this success will be a great encouragement to everyone who has devoted time to the project over the last few years."
The judges of the new award were impressed by the project’s ability to create valuable wildlife habitats within a landscape that also benefits the local community. Ruth Davis, Head of Water Policy at the RSPB said: “It was so exciting to find a project of this quality being run by and for local people. Wetlands and the wildlife they support are central to the health of our landscape, and to the quality of people’s lives. We hope this example will inspire others to start similar schemes – and demonstrate to politicians and civil servants how important our wetland heritage really is.”
Justin Taberham of CIWEM, added: “We congratulate all the Award entries this year, in particular the winners, for demonstrating so clearly how wetlands can provide a huge range of benefits. They can help manage wastewater, create valuable habitats, provide opportunities for leisure and recreation, and above all, they provide access to a landscape that can be shared by both wildlife and people.”
This year, a new category of best Small Living Wetland was awarded to Scrayingham Ecological Wastewater Treatment system. This innovative scheme sees water passing through rock filters into a series of ponds which provide an attractive landscape feature, and creating a rich and varied wetland habitat. The purified water then flows into the River Derwent, an internationally important area for conservation. This sustainable solution to the treatment of the Yorkshire village’s wastewater
was prompted by the necessary replacement of Scrayingham’s sewage system.
The managers of the Little Ouse Headwaters project will be awarded a specially-commissioned bronze trophy of a snipe and £1,500, which will be used to boost conservation work on the site. The managers of the Scrayingham Ecological Wastewater Treatment system will also receive £500 and a framed certificate. The award ceremony will take place at CIWEM’s Annual Dinner in April.
The judges were also delighted to commend two other entries: The Lamesley Combined Water Treatment Scheme submitted by Northumbrian Water Ltd and the Coal Authority is commended for its imaginative approach and demonstrable benefits. The Wetlands Wildlife Sanctuary submitted by AESSEAL plc are commended for their good environmental ethos.
For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:
Melanie Edmunds, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
Out of hours, please page: 07654 344078
Photographs of the winning site are available on request.
Editor's notes
1. The Little Ouse Partnership’s sites are all adjacent to the Little Ouse River, and include a variety of habitat types: sedge and reed beds, mixed fen vegetation, wet woodland, wet pasture, sandy heaths with birch woodland, and drier acid grassland areas. More information can be found at www.lohp.org.uk
2. The rivers Little Ouse and Waveney have their origins in a shallow valley which marks the historic boundary between the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. The rivers rise between the villages of South Lopham in Norfolk and Redgrave in Suffolk, the Waveney flowing east and the Little Ouse flowing west to join the Great Ouse. This river corridor formerly held the most extensive area of valley fenland in England, linking the great wildernesses of Breckland and Broadland.
3. Nearby sites at Thelnetham Fen in the Little Ouse valley and Redgrave and Lopham Fens in the Waveney valley are managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
4. The judging for the 2006 award was carried out in December by independent experts and representatives of RSPB and CIWEM.
5. The winner of the small Living Wetland Award illustrates a prime example of innovation in the water industry. The judges were particularly impressed with the example this project sets, its wider impact on improvements downstream, and its low energy consumption.
6. CIWEM, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, is the leading professional body for the people who plan, protect and care for the environment and its resources. CIWEM provides educational opportunities and continuing professional development, independent information to the public and media, and advice to government. CIWEM's members in 96 countries include scientists, engineers and students. See www.ciwem.org.
Joanna Cooper
Policy Support Officer
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
15 John Street London WC1N 2EB
Registered Charity No.1043409 VAT no: 460 5613 62
www.ciwem.org
Telephone 0207 831 3110 Fax 0207 405 4967
Email:jcooper@ciwem.org
LITTLE OUSE ‘LIVING WETLAND’ RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD