June 2022
North Somerset Levels & Moors Workshop
The purpose of the workshop was to help prioritise which partnership projects should be taken forward through the ’50 Year Vision’ partnership document. Avon Wildlife Trust has been leading on the development of this document on behalf of the local Partnership to define and develop an Action Plan over the past 2 years.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to engage with Bristol Water and Wessex Water to discuss potential partnership projects that could be considered for inclusion in the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) 2025-2030. This could provide the opportunity to work in a more integrated way with the water companies and unlock further investment to enable delivery of multiple benefit outcomes.
We would like to extend our thanks to the Belmont Estate for their site visit and hospitality. For more information, please contact Zoe Hancock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust successful in application to Defra Fund
Congratulations to the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) who were successful in their bid to the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF). BART worked in partnership with Hermes International investment company, The Rivers Trust & Duchy of Cornwall to apply for funding for the development of a Freshwater Biodiversity Investment Model & UK Freshwater Biodiversity Code. Please follow this link to the Government website for more information.
The project will be based across 5 sites in the Chew Valley and Newton Brook. BART plans to create a model that incentivises freshwater environments including barrier removal and river restoration, including floodplain reconnection. Currently these opportunities are being missed from the existing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) model. This could lead to nation-wide benefits to our river catchments. For more information, please contact Melissa Hoskings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West of England Nature Partnership - 2022 Conference
The Conference also provided a good opportunity to promote the BACP’s Catchment Plan and highlight the need to work collaboratively with WENP and all relevant partners to protect and restore the environment in the face of the Climate and Ecological Emergencies.
Please find links to the slides from the day, as well as an article on Councillor Toby Savage’s presentation to the WENP Conference, can be found on the WENP website at the following link: WENP Conference 2022: Nature Recovery at Scale - WENP.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Updates from around the catchment
West of England Combined Authority- Green Recovery Fund
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has created a £50m Fund to help meet the climate and ecology ambitions set out in the Climate and Ecological Strategy & Action Plan. To find out more about the objectives of the Fund and how to apply please follow this link.
The first round of funding is now open and will close on 22nd July. This round is looking to allocate up to £4 million for nature recovery projects and up to £3 million for renewable energy projects.
If you are thinking of applying, please contact us as we are working with the West of England Nature Partnership to coordinate bids that are being submitted in this round of funding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Updates from further afield
West County Water Resources Group
A stakeholder engagement workshop was organised on the 23rd June to discuss ‘Managing the West County’s Water Resources- Challenges and Solutions’.
This is the first in a series of events that will be organised over the summer to introduce the challenges we face for water resources over the coming years. The events will also give the opportunity to begin exploring how we can all work together to design and deliver solutions.
If you would like to get involved in the discussion contact the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership and we will send on the details of upcoming events.