On 18 July The Rivers Belief and South East Rivers Belief welcomed the brand new Secretary of State for Surroundings, Meals and Rural Affairs Steve Reed MP to Chamber Mead Wetlands, an indication of how nature-based options might be enhance river well being. The Secretary of State was additionally joined by Alan Lovell, Chair of the Surroundings Company, and Defra Water Director Sebastian Catovsky.
The Chamber Mead Wetlands have been put in by South East Rivers Belief within the Chamber Mead native nature reserve as a way to sort out sewage and street run-off air pollution affecting the Hogsmill River, a chalk stream. The wetlands will even assist biodiversity in and across the Hogsmill and enhance the amenity worth of this neighborhood house with a bridge and informational signage. Through the go to, the Secretary of State heard how and why the wetlands have been put in, how companions have been engaged and funding secured, and the way classes realized from the challenge might assist to take away obstacles and facilitate the broader implementation of nature-based options throughout water catchments.
Mr Reed additionally joined The Rivers Belief and South East Rivers Belief in accumulating an eDNA pattern as a part of the hassle to measure the influence of the brand new wetlands on aquatic wildlife.
Secretary of State for Surroundings, Meals and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed: “The Rivers Belief’s wonderful work at Chamber Mead Wetlands demonstrates the very important position nature-based options play in cleansing up our rivers, lakes and seas.
“The new government has immediately introduced new measures to ensure that investment is ringfenced so that it is spent on projects like these, rather than paid in salaries, bonuses and dividends.”
Mark Lloyd, Chief Govt of The Rivers Belief: “We are very proud to be able to show the new Secretary of State this project and to discuss ways in which nature-based solutions such as this urban wetland can deliver multiple benefits to society by storing water, purifying pollutants, reducing greenhouse gases, providing space for nature, offering public access and cooling the local air. We need to scale up these solutions, especially to ensure that new developments on housing, planning and transport occur alongside building resilience in our communities to climate change and reversing the steep decline in biodiversity. The Rivers Trust movement stands ready to work in partnership with the government on this aspect of our national renewal.”
Bella Davies, Co-CEO of South East Rivers Belief: “We are delighted to host the Secretary of State at the Chamber Mead wetland today. The wetland tackles sewage and urban road runoff pollution before it enters the Hogsmill River, which is a rare chalk stream, one of around 220 in the world, supporting a unique set of species dependent on the chalk-purified water. We designed the wetland to provide varied benefits, which enabled us to access a mix of public and private funding from many partners. Each partner paid for benefit that most interested them, whether that’s cleaning up sewage, protecting endangered wildlife or improving water quality. Most importantly, the wetland brings a new feature for the local community to relax and enjoy nature. We are glad that the new Government sees the wide benefits of nature-based solutions and we urge them to take action to break down barriers to these kinds of projects and support organisations such as ours to deliver more at scale in the future.”
