The Project has secured £10.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £6 million from the European Union LIFE programme.
The Wildlife Project, the largest project of its kind ever attempted in Europe, is a scheme to re-open the River Severn, the UK’s longest river, and its major tributary for fish and wildlife whilst reconnecting millions of people and local communities with the lost natural, cultural and industrial heritage of the river.
Many of these fish species became extinct in the upper reaches following the installation of weirs required to power the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. Blockages will be removed and access to important spawning grounds will be substantially increased in order to secure the long-term future of many of the UK’s declining and protected fish species.
The project will benefit critically declining species such as the now threatened twaite and allis shad as well as the European eel, lamprey, sea trout and salmon, and was developed as part of a 3 year long collaborative partnership between the Severn Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency, the Canal & River Trust, and Natural England.
“After considerable investment, rivers in England are the healthiest for 20 years. This is down to more than a decade of hard work. But there is more to do and ambitious projects, such as the Unlocking the River Severn, to remove weirs and help fish migrate are a crucial part of this. But this isn’t just about fish – we want this project to reconnect millions of people with this beautiful river. This is a great example of working with partners in order to play to different organisations’ strengths, make our money go further and deliver more,†said Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency.
Restoring the natural environment to this river and its tributaries will benefit the UK in many ways, including with the quality of its drinking water.
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