Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
We cannot change the water environment on our own, and we recognise that working in partnership allows us to accomplish more together. We have already seen the huge benefits of our joint vision with RSPB which is “Good for Water, Good for Nature, Good for People”. We aim to enhance the biodiversity that the land supports, build landscape resilience to climate change and other impacts such as flood and fire risk, to manage the land in an environmentally sustainable way that increases water quality, to create an environment visitors enjoy and to contribute to the sustainability of local communities.
The RSPB partnership is an award winning one, winning both the 2016 international Natura 2000 award for landscape restoration, and the 2018 CIEEM award for partnership conservation.
We were recognised for the river restoration work we carried out with our partners in Cumbria. The award-winning, re-meandering of Swindale Beck, provided a range of benefits. The river, which had been artificially straightened some 200 years ago to increase grazing land, was put back to a more natural, meandering course, restoring important habitat for salmon, birds and insects, while reducing levels of silt being carried into the reservoir.
Not only that, in Haweswater, tens of thousands of trees have been planted and 29 miles of moorland drainage ditches have been blocked up to restore peat bogs, reduce soil erosion and lock up carbon. We also worked with the RSPB to release Water Vole into the natural habitat (pictured). As part of a farming diversification trial into low impact eco-tourism, wildlife photography hides have been created to offer opportunities for visitors to encounter iconic species such as red squirrel, badger and pied flycatcher.
At Dove Stone, the partnership has very effectively developed, pioneered and delivered industry-leading peatland restoration works across 4000Ha of United Utilities’ upland estate. The partnership at Dove Stone has a long history of successful advocacy work, hosting politicians (including Andy Burnham, Ruth George, Holly Lynch, Robert Largan and Sean Fielding), nationally viewed media such as Springwatch, and attendance at national political events such as the 2019 Parliamentary Reception at Westminster.
There are several places where RSPB and UU work together, albeit the models of engagement are different, ranging from formal tenancies and leases, to joint working.
Working in partnership with RSPB across various locations allows us to better understand the land, improve diversity and as a result of that improve water quality.
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