Mayor visits banks of River Stour to launch environment plan

The Natural Environment Plan sets out the actions the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its partners will take to boost biodiversity, protect endangered species and improve access to green spaces and waterways for residents over the next five years.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, officially launched the scheme with a visit to the Love Your River Stour project in Stourbridge.

River Stour

The project, which has scooped £249,700 the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, aims to transform the River Stour and green spaces along its banks in Stourbridge and Wolverhampton into wildlife-rich areas.

Mr Street said: “During lockdown we all realised the importance of green spaces and how these areas, including our waterways, are key to our natural environment whilst also really benefitting our physical and mental wellbeing.

"That’s why we’ve drawn up our Natural Environment Plan, which sets out how we’re going to improve and maintain these critical spaces across the West Midlands.

“The plan also recognises how the West Midlands’ natural environment holds huge potential to mitigate the effects of climate change, from reducing the risk of flooding to directly removing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.

"Decades of polluting industry and expansive development on our greenbelt has forced wildlife out, but this plan aims to put a stop to the damage by protecting, restoring, and enhancing the region’s biodiversity for everyone’s benefit.”

Andy Street - Mayor of the West Midlands - on the banks of the River Stour

During the visit, the Mayor spoke to colleagues from The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country about their Love Your River Stour project, which as well as improving biodiversity will create jobs and provide training for local people.

Delia Garratt, chief executive of the trust, said: “We are pleased to see that the West Midlands Combined Authority recognise and support the need to invest in the natural world and we welcome the launch of the Natural Environment Plan."

Delia Garratt - chief executive of The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country

The plan is split into four themes: access to greenspace; tree and hedgerow planting; wildlife corridors; and supporting financing to make these proposed changes happen.

It also highlights the benefits of nature for health and wellbeing, recognising the impact of the Covid pandemic on urban areas with little access to greenspace and follows this year’s #WM2041 Five Year Plan, which sets out how to keep the region on track for reaching net zero by 2041.

The plan aims to pave the way for the Government’s landmark Environment Bill and Nature Recovery Networks, which is expected to outline a series of targets on biodiversity and access to greenspace later this year, and it aims to ensure everybody has access to high quality greenspace within a 300-metre walk of their home.

It is also expected to pave the way for the creation of new jobs supporting the natural world and it is underpinned by ongoing work to create a £750,000 programme of Community Green Grants, drive tree planting and support the creation of a West Midlands National Park.

The Love Your River Stour project aims to make the 'forgotten' river a haven for wildlife including salmon, otters and kingfishers as well as bringing more people into contact with their local wild spaces.

The River Stour

The scheme will also employ two project officers and two trainees, train young people in nature conservation, deliver engagement sessions with vulnerable adults, host practical volunteer days, community engagement events and events to improve people’s health and well-being.

It will also see ‘River Ranger’ sessions laid on for students and ‘Wild Experience’ days for local businesses.