A WORCESTERSHIRE based wildlife conservation group is celebrating its fifth birthday with another funding boost from central government.
Natural Networks, a partnership between Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Worcestershire County Council, works with landowners and provides match funding for work that helps preserve and replenish their land and nature.
The organisation originally received funding from the European Regional Development Fund in 2018 and was so successful in its first three years that the project was extended to five years, which was due to end this summer.
With the latest funding boost of £324,726 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the project has been extended for a further two years.
Over the last five years, Natural Networks has provided conservation advice on more than 2,630 hectares of land across Worcestershire with projects on more than 130 hectares receiving funding to carry out heeded advice.
Across the funded projects, over 27,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, over 77,000 bulbs and plug plants were planted, over 800 bird, bug and bat boxes were installed, more than 4,400 metres of hedges were planted, more than 1,350 metres of waterway were enhanced and over 50 ponds and wetlands were created or enhanced.
An independent evaluation of the first five years concluded that for every £1 spent, £4.20 was gained in public benefits such as clean air, better water quality and improved nature-based recreation opportunities for people.
Examples of projects to benefit from Natural Networks advise and funding in Bromsgrove have included The Fulford Heath Golf Course and The Battlefield Brook along the Millennium Way in Catshill.
At Fulford Heath Golf Course a new pond was created and the banks were lined with wildflowers, a ditched stream was replenished with wildlife and another pond was enlarged and enhanced with a variety of wildlife planted.
At The Battlefield Brook, wetland habitats were increased with the creation of a pond with vertical banks to encourage water vole habitation and enhancements were made to the silted ditch channel.
Management of overhanging trees also took place alongside various instances of native wildflower planting and the installation of bird and bat boxes.
Gill Hazelwood from Fulford Heath Golf Course said: “Fulford Heath Golf Club has a long history of striving to enhance the biodiversity of our course.
“When we were offered an opportunity to seek funding and obtain expert advice to further enhance the biodiversity of the golf course, we jumped at the chance.
“This project has greatly improved our golf course, much to the delight of our members and also members of the public who have access to two public footpaths on the course.”
Colin Raven, Director of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, commented “We’re delighted by the achievements of this successful project over the last five years.
“The statistics speak for themselves.
“Thank you to our partners, Worcestershire County Council and also to all the individuals, communities and groups who have worked with our teams to create amazing spaces for wildlife and for people.”
Councillor Richard Morris, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for environment, said “It’s fantastic that we’ve managed to secure funding to support such an important programme.
“The programme has been a huge success.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved.”
Visit: www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/natural-networks for more information.
