Water for Wildlife Chris Rostron Water for Wildlife UK Manager

WfW What is WfW? What is WfW? Local project examples Local project examples Importance of chalk streams Importance of chalk streams Issues Issues Thinking bigger Thinking bigger Private sector partnership Private sector partnership Challenges and opportunities Challenges and opportunities

What is WfW?  Wildlife Trusts – 47 Trusts covering the UK, 670,000 members, 2,200 reserves covering 80,000ha  Partnership between the Wildlife Trusts (£669k), EA (£467k) and water industry (£431k)  Initial 3 year project, co-ordinated by WfW UK manager, with officers across the Wildlife Trusts  Raising awareness  Encouraging joint working  Sharing best practice  Project development & resources

Local projects Large area projects e.g. Great Fen, Idle Valley, SNAP Large area projects e.g. Great Fen, Idle Valley, SNAP Species specific e.g. water vole work Species specific e.g. water vole work Habitat specific e.g. chalk streams projects Hants and IoW, Wiltshire, Lincolnshire Habitat specific e.g. chalk streams projects Hants and IoW, Wiltshire, Lincolnshire Awareness-raising e.g. Southern Counties Water Festival Awareness-raising e.g. Southern Counties Water Festival

Chalk Streams UK has chalk streams in the South and East UK has chalk streams in the South and East Globally rare habitat Globally rare habitat Impacts from diffuse pollution, recreation, low flow, modification, invasive species Impacts from diffuse pollution, recreation, low flow, modification, invasive species Good water quality but could be improved Good water quality but could be improved No single agency capable of reversing the trend. No single agency capable of reversing the trend.

Issues Climate change as established threat Climate change as established threat Implications for extreme weather, drought, stress on ecosytems and species Implications for extreme weather, drought, stress on ecosytems and species Water framework directive Water framework directive Housing development Housing development Change in agriculture Change in agriculture

Thinking bigger Landscape scale approach Landscape scale approach Partnership and influence on land management Partnership and influence on land management Regional involvement Regional involvement Water industry planning input Water industry planning input

Private sector partnership TWT’s recognise role of influencing and common long-term goals vs adversarial relationship TWT’s recognise role of influencing and common long-term goals vs adversarial relationship Importance of co-operation whilst retaining independence Importance of co-operation whilst retaining independence Getting the message across Getting the message across Beyond regulation Beyond regulation Sharing resources Sharing resources Rise of the educated consumer Rise of the educated consumer

Private sector partnership WfW – increased buy in WfW – increased buy in WildCare – milk production working with approved farmers WildCare – milk production working with approved farmers Ribena – farm advice, habitat management plans Ribena – farm advice, habitat management plans Corporate funding locally Corporate funding locally

Joint challenges and opportunities Creating a robust countryside for biodiversity, leisure and agriculture. Creating a robust countryside for biodiversity, leisure and agriculture. Climate change – mitigation and adaptation, locally produced food, changing behaviour Climate change – mitigation and adaptation, locally produced food, changing behaviour Stricter regulations – WFD Stricter regulations – WFD Increasing public awareness Increasing public awareness Making the most of our resources Making the most of our resources Meaningful outputs – targets and goals Meaningful outputs – targets and goals