United Utilities (UU) has formed a partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to return land around a reservoir to its natural state, following a catchment management pilot project.
The RSPB has worked with UU on a pilot project at the Haweswater reservoir since 2011 to improve biodiversity, water quality and develop a sustainable model for farming.
Over the past decade the two groups have worked to make the landscape more resilient to climate change while creating sustainable hill farming opportunities and improving access for visitors.
As part of the project the river Swindale Beck was restored to its natural meandering direction after being artificially straightened 200 years ago. 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 sequester carbon.
The RSPB’s chief executive Beccy Speight said: “Once restored, these places can lock in huge amounts of carbon, give us clean water, provide homes for endangered wildlife and help protect our homes from extreme weather. None of us can work on this scale alone and it is through innovative partnerships such as this that we can make the biggest difference and help to revive our world.”
Besides Haweswater, UU and the RSPB also work together at Bowland in Lancashire, Dove Stone reservoir near Oldham and with Hafren Dyfrdwy at Lake Vyrnwy in North Wales.
Steve Mogford, UU chief executive, said: “Never has there been a more important time to formalise our commitment to partnership working. Together we can maximise the opportunities to increase the natural capital of our land holdings to deliver great water and more for the northwest.”
The two groups hope to tap into natural capital markets including green finance initiatives and ELM schemes to fund beneficial land management projects.