A PROJECT to create wetlands and help prevent pollution from the M5 running into the River Stour has been announced today (Monday).

National Highways and The Wildlife Trusts have joined forces to launch a £6 million Network for Nature programme to improve habitats across the Midlands, benefitting people, nature and wildlife.

The projects will help create, restore and connect places for wildflowers, trees and wildlife, where the environment has been impacted by activities from previous road building.

The M5 Clean Rivers Project will run a feasibility study and create a series of wetlands to help prevent pollution from the M5 entering the River Rea and the River Stour.

The wetlands, which will be created on the boundary of Birmingham and Dudley, will act as a filter, removing harmful pollution such as oil, tyre residue and heavy metals before they have chance to enter the rivers. 

Kingfishers, otters and charismatic dippers will benefit from the increase in aquatic invertebrates such as caddisfly, and small fish such as minnow, which require clean water to breed.

National Highways has awarded nearly £6m from its Environment and Wellbeing designated fund into the Network for Nature programme.

The River Stour scheme is one of 26 biodiversity projects aiming to enhance, restore and create more than 1,700 acres of woodlands, grasslands, peatlands and wetlands across  England's regions.

Regional operations director for the Midlands, Andrew Jinks, said: “We’re committed to significantly improving biodiversity near our road network, and this investment underlines our commitment to reducing the impact of our roads on the environment and supporting biodiversity."

Nikki Robinson, Network for Nature programme manager for The Wildlife Trusts, added: “We’re very pleased that National Highways is committed to Network for Nature, with a strategic approach to restoring nature and joining up vital places for wildlife to help counter the impacts of previous road building.”