Project Title: North Devon NIA

Programme: Nature Improvement Area

Project Lead: Devon Wildlife Trust

Partners: North Devon Catchment Partnership (Beaford Arts, Mole Valley Farmers Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, Devon County Council, Plymouth University, Devon Wildlife Trust, Torridge District Council, Environment Agency, University of Exeter, Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust)

Funders: Defra

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra)

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Acid grassland,Improved grassland (e.g. coastal and floodplain grazing marsh),Hedgerows

Dates: 2012 - 2020

Area: 3000

Goals and Objectives: To take an ecosystems-based approach to restore and re-create a wildlife-rich landscape across the internationally important River Torridge catchment, especially within the culm acid wet grasslands and to develop stronger links between environment, economy and local communities. Project is now the Northern Devon Natural Solutions.

Actions: Restoration, creation and connecting key habitats especially clum meadows and semi-natural woodland. Deliver high quality ecosystem services (water quality, flood risk and carbon), enable community understanding, advisory services, economic support through local supply (woodfuel)

Action List: Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Incentive programmes / Conservation payments,Advisory Services,Education / Training / Community Awareness

Ecosystem Services: Carbon / Net Zero / GHG,Biodiversity,Flood and Drought,Other

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Project team,Volunteers,Consultants,Researchers / Academics

Data available: Yes

High level summary: North Devon Nature Improvement Area restores and reconnects Culm grasslands, woodlands and rivers, enhancing ecosystem services and engaging communities across the Torridge catchment to create a resilient, wildlife-rich landscape.

Outputs: The first three years: 2012 - 15 Progress and learning so far. https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/NIA_Report_2015.pdf

Link / URL: https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/what-we-do/our-projects/northern-devon-nature-improvement-area

Project Title: Humberhead Levels NIA

Programme: Nature Improvement Area

Project Lead: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Partners: Humberhead Levels Partnership. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

Funders: Defra

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra)

Habitats: Cropland (arable and horticulture / orchards),Fen, marsh and swamp,Bogs

Dates: 2012 - 2015

Area: 49700

Goals and Objectives: To create an internationally renowned, unique wetland landscape, supporting thriving communities, economy, ecosystem services and wildlife within the Humberhead Levels National Character Area. The project will progress towards reinstatement of England's largest lowland mire system on the Humberhead Peatlands NNR. Create or restore at least 1427Ha of wetland habitat on Thorne, Crowle and Hatfield Moors.

Actions: Community capacity development. Visits, environmental education, targeted volunteer development, green economy - through biomass reeded and woodfuel.

Action List: Habitat restoration and rehabilitation,Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Education / Training / Community Awareness

Ecosystem Services: Carbon / Net Zero / GHG,Biodiversity,Flood and Drought

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Volunteers

Data available: No

High level summary: Project has created a network of wetlands in a predominantly agricultural landscape, whilst supporting thriving communities and wildlife. A key aim is to work with local businesses, landowners, communities and other organisations to achieve sustainable land management practices.

Outputs: Article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-020-01938-2?utm_source=researchgate.net&utm_medium=article

Link / URL: https://www.ywt.org.uk/wildlife/conservation-action/south-yorkshire/humberhead-levels

Project Title: Ripa Gar-Hutton Glen Lochay Biodiversity Partnership

Programme:

Project Lead: Ripa Gar Foundation

Partners: The James Hutton Institute and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Funders: Ripa Gar Foundation

Nature of funding: Private sector (individual / estate)

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Standing open water and canals,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Coniferous woodland,Acid grassland,Calcareous grassland,Dwarf shrub heath,Bogs,Montane habitat

Dates: 2019 -

Area: 5666

Goals and Objectives: The primary aim of the Ripa Gar Foundation is to achieve biodiversity, and to so so with as little human intervention as possible. The foundation ensures that this environmental purpose is maintained 'forever', creating an everlasting purpose. The foundation is intended to be a vivid example of alternative perspective that gives nature its own value, regardless of whether or not people perceive it. The aim is to achieve harmony of nature, and a balance created by the self. People are encouraged to find inspiration among the silent uplands of the glen.

Actions: Planting of over 1.5 million native broadleaf and conifer trees to create and open woodland. Creation of tree nursery to support rearing of local genetic tree stock. Planting on montane willow shrubs. Reintroduction of rare plant species including Alpine Blue-sowthistle, Wych Elm and Wild Apple. Fencing to exclude deer and encourage woodland development natural colonisation along with deer culling. Removal of livestock and cattle, apart from summer cattle grazing and soay sheep as food resource for nesting golden eagles and other raptors. Engineering of waterways to create wetland ponds and slow movement of water along the river Lochay.

Action List: Land / water habitat protection (e.g. creating a reserve),Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Species-specific Management,Habitat restoration and rehabilitation,Natural process mimicry (controls to simulate processes),Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Incentive programmes / Conservation payments

Ecosystem Services: Carbon / Net Zero / GHG,Biodiversity,Flood and Drought,Soil Health,Erosion control,Health and Wellbeing,Cultural,Other

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Not known

Who is monitoring: Researchers / Academics

Data available: Yes

High level summary: Please see website

Outputs: Please see website

Link / URL: https://www.ripagar.com/

Project Title: Farmers, Landowners, Northern Brown Argus and Species-rich Grasslands

Programme: Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal - Natural Capital Programme

Project Lead: Butterfly Conservation

Partners: Scottish Borders Council

Funders: Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra)

Habitats: Acid grassland,Calcareous grassland,Neutral grassland

Dates: 2025 - 2030

Area: 500

Goals and Objectives: Our aim is to develop a more sustainable approach to hill farming in south Scotland, that benefits both biodiversity and the rural economy. Butterfly Conservation will work closely with farmers and other landowners to restore at least 400 hectares of degraded grassland back into thriving, species-rich habitat. The Northern Brown Argus butterfly is our flagship species, due to its reliance on low intensity, seasonal grazing by cattle. Grassland will be restored through a variety of management trials and case studies, which will help to inform future grassland projects and agricultural policy.

Actions: Species-rich grassland restoration, management and new meadow creation.

Action List: Habitat / natural process restoration,Species-specific Management,Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc)

Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity,Soil Health,Improved farm economics,Cultural

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Project team,Consultants

Data available: No

High level summary: Our aim is to develop a more sustainable approach to hill farming in south Scotland, that benefits both biodiversity and the rural economy.

Outputs: Results of our management trials will be published as case studies in 2030. Trials include gorse removal, bracken control, conservation grazing and meadow creation.

Link / URL: https://butterfly-conservation.org/borderlands

Project Title: Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve

Programme: Ian Mr Alexander

Project Lead: Natural England

Partners: Dorset National Landscape, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Forestry England, National Trust, Rempstone Estate, RSPB

Funders: .

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra),Private sector (individual / estate),Agri-payments (CS / SFI)

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Coniferous woodland,Acid grassland,Neutral grassland,Dwarf shrub heath,Dense scrub,Hedgerows,Fen, marsh and swamp,Bogs

Dates: 2020 - None

Area: 3,300

Goals and Objectives: Nature recovery (rewilding) in a highly designated landscape. This NNR is sceduled to nearly double in size by 2027 taking in a much wider range of habitats including part of the chalk Purbeck Ridge and the limestone coast of Purbeck.

Actions: Process based (rather than target driven) management of a highly designated landscape (most of the NNR is SAC / SPA / Ramsar). Reversion to semi-natural habitat from past industrial uses, especially industrial agriculture and forestry. Wild grazing using cattle, ponies and pigs. Keystone species reintroductions (beaver and sea eagle). Private sector partnership. Community engagement.

Action List: Land / water habitat protection (e.g. creating a reserve),Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Species-specific Management,Invasive/problematic species control (e.g. Rhododendron control),Habitat restoration and rehabilitation,Natural process mimicry (controls to simulate processes),Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Habitat linking (joining isolated habitats),Habitat buffering (buffer zones from external threats),Incentive programmes / Conservation payments,Advisory Services,Education / Training / Community Awareness,Regenerative practices (Agriculture / soils)*

Ecosystem Services: Carbon / Net Zero / GHG,Biodiversity,Water Quality,Health and Wellbeing,Cultural,Recreation and tourism

Baseline Monitoring: Not known

Accredited methods: Not known

Who is monitoring: Project team,Volunteers,Researchers / Academics

Data available: Not known

High level summary: In 2020 the declaration of Purbeck Heaths NNR amalgamated a series of once separate nature reserves / SSSIs into a single coherant landscape with seven partner organisation collaborating to deliver a single vision for management, monitoring and the economic development of the landscape based on its high nature value. Management is focused on getting the appropriate ecological processes in place (rather than managing towards a defined end point). By 2027 the area of the NNR is due to nearly double which will bring a range of additional habitats into the same management system.

Outputs: .

Link / URL: https://purbeckheaths.org.uk/ https://dorset-nl.org.uk/purbeck-heaths-national-nature-reserve/

Project Title: Solway Coast and marine Project - Landscape Connections (SCAMP)

Programme: National Lottery Heritage Fund Landscape Connections Programme

Project Lead: Dumfries and Galloway Council

Partners: Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, Solway Firth Partnership, Galloway Rivers Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands, Crichton Carbon Centre, Southern Uplands Partnership, RSPB

Funders: National Lottery Heritage Fund, South of Scotland Enterprise, SEPA, Nature Restoration Fund, SWESTRANS, Holywood Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra)

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Fen, marsh and swamp,Bogs,Sublittoral / marine sediments (e.g. Subtidal Muds, Sands and Gravels - e.g. subtidal seagrass beds)

Dates: 2025 - 2035

Area: 217,000

Goals and Objectives: Solway Coast and Marine Project - Landscape Connections (SCAMP) is an ambitious coastal and marine nature restoration project, seeking to restore the coastal and shallow sea habitats of the Solway, along the entire 210 miles of the Dumfries and Galloway Coastline from Gretna to the Rhins of Galloway. SCAMP plans to explore community-driven initiatives to enhance and restore biodiversity and habitats, both underwater and along the coast. It will support communities to adapt to the effects of climate change, be more resilient to predicted sea level rise, and gain sustainable economic and social benefits.

Actions: We are focusing on the restoration of 6 key habitats, Native oyster reef, seagrass, saltmarsh, sand dunes, coastal woodland and coastal burns as we and access to the coast for local people and visitors through the improvement of coastal infrastructure, education and training and economic development for costal communities, utilising the arts and culture to engage local communities

Action List: Land / water habitat protection (e.g. creating a reserve),Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Invasive/problematic species control (e.g. Rhododendron control),Habitat restoration and rehabilitation,Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Habitat linking (joining isolated habitats),Education / Training / Community Awareness

Ecosystem Services: Carbon / Net Zero / GHG,Biodiversity,Water Quality,Improved farm economics,Health and Wellbeing,Cultural,Recreation and tourism

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Project team,Volunteers,Consultants,Researchers / Academics

Data available: No

High level summary: The Solway Firth is one of the largest and least industrialised estuaries in Europe, with a diverse marine ecosystem. Solway Coast and Marine Project - Landscape Connections (SCAMP) is an ambitious coastal and marine nature restoration project, seeking to restore the coastal and shallow sea habitats of the Solway, along the entire 210 miles of the Dumfries and Galloway Coastline from Gretna to the Rhins of Galloway. SCAMP plans to explore community-driven initiatives to enhance and restore biodiversity and habitats, both underwater and along the coast. It will support communities to adapt to the effects of climate change, be more resilient to predicted sea level rise, and gain sustainable economic and social benefits.

Outputs: Currently in development

Link / URL: https://www.solwaycoastmarine.co.uk/

Project Title: LIFE WADER

Programme: Liz Humphreys

Project Lead: Natural England

Partners: Natural England Environment Agency Tweed Forum Newcastle University

Funders: EU LIFE Programme Natural England Environment Agency Tweed Forum Newcastle University

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra)

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Cropland (arable and horticulture / orchards),Supralittoral sediment (e.g. sand dunes, vegetated shingle),Littoral sediments (e.g. saltmarsh, mudflats),Sublittoral / marine sediments (e.g. Subtidal Muds, Sands and Gravels - e.g. subtidal seagrass beds)

Dates: 2021 - 2027

Area: 70,242

Goals and Objectives: LIFE WADER is a five-year project to improve the condition of the river, intertidal and marine habitats of the Northumberland Coast and Tweed catchment for the species that depend on them. Spanning 70,242ha from the SE Scottish border along the Northumbrian coast, including the Tweed catchment, the project area includes four Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and two Special Protection Areas (SPAs). By tackling issues affecting site condition targeting 10 Annex I habitats, 3 Annex II species & associated SPA bird interests, LIFE WADER aims to ensure these become sites more resilient to climate change. This partnership project takes a 'source to sea' approach to improve > 49,000 hectares of habitat by: 1. Reversing the decline of freshwater/coastal/marine habitats & species 2. Demonstrating best practice to businesses, policy makers and land managers 3. Increasing awareness of the importance and vulnerability of the SAC/SPA sites

Actions: Objective 1: Reverse the decline of freshwater/coastal/marine habitats & species Actions: • Delivering river restoration on the River Till / Breamish. • Creating reed beds and demonstration projects to address pollution from agriculture and other sources, reducing the level of nutrients entering the marine environment. • Planting trees and installing fencing along river corridors to improve the riparian zone and reduce risk of diffuse pollution. • Sympathetically removing opportunistic (macro)algae (which is smothering intertidal habitats) and identifying different ways the removed material can be used. • Reducing disturbance of birds, mammals, and sensitive habitats by assessing how many visitors an individual site can tolerate; and identifying pressure points and enhancing visitor management through an increase in the use of seasonal wardens, interpretation, revised bylaws and the creation of wildlife refuges. • Improving the control of INNS through better surveillance, new surveying techniques, improved detection and subsequent removal across freshwater, marine and dune land habitats, using non-chemical controls. • Enhanced cross-border working with regulators on water quality & IAS. Objective 2: Demonstrate best practice to businesses, policy makers and land managers Actions: • Developing freshwater/marine eDNA and ecosystem monitoring systems to better target restoration interventions and involve greater use of citizen science. • Increase knowledge/skills at local/ national/transnational levels including replicating work at 20 sites. Objective 3: Increase awareness of the importance and vulnerability of the SAC/SPA sites Actions: • Highlighting designated features, such as the bird assemblages' inter-dependence on the wider coastal ecosystem, reaching up to 500,000 people per year. • Inspiring the need for more sustainable management and care from a wide range of users, volunteers, stakeholders, businesses, regulators, visitors and communities.

Action List: Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Invasive/problematic species control (e.g. Rhododendron control),Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Education / Training / Community Awareness,Regenerative practices (Agriculture / soils)*

Ecosystem Services: Water Quality,Recreation and tourism

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Project team,Researchers / Academics

Data available: Not known

High level summary: LIFE WADER is a five-year project aimed at improving the condition of the river, intertidal and marine habitats of the Northumberland coast and Tweed catchment for the species that depend on them. LIFE WADER has taken a catchment to coast approach to nature recovery looking at the bigger picture through a landscape-scale lens. Spanning 70,242ha from the SE Scottish border along the Northumbrian coast, including the Tweed catchment, and the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. LIFE WADER set out to tackle four major issues prevalent in the area: declining water quality, excessive algal growth, increasing spread of invasive species and growing recreational pressure on wildlife habitats. Through the trial of innovative solutions and demonstration of established practice these trends have begun to be reversed allowing nature to recover and become more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Alongside practical nature recovery solutions the project also set out to raise levels of awareness about the importance and interconnectivity of this special area. LIFE WADER has shown that small scale improvements achieved at the local level, when scaled up to catchment scale can bring enormous benefits to habitats, wildlife and people, delivering financial gains, improving and protecting ecosystems and enhancing visitor experiences.

Outputs: Marine Invasives protocol: Molecular monitoring of biofouling communities using settlement panels and diagnostic assays https:// dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.36wgqpm8kvk5/v1 The Tweed Catchment Biosecurity Plan: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5f02734c56634a38a7f46422c2f9cb2c TweedWATCH Education Pack - Destination Tweed : Destination Tweed https://destinationtweed.org/tweedwatch-education-pack/ Short film Restoring Budle Bay in Northumberland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgTmobee-BU River Restoration Film: https://tweedforum.org/our-work/projects/harehope-restoration-project/ .....much more to come

Link / URL: https://lifewader.co.uk/

Project Title: East Kent Downs Landscape Recovery Project

Programme: n/a

Project Lead: Natural England

Partners: 120 farmers /landowners (all private farms of varying sizes from 3ha to 2000 plus ha ) and of mixed enterprises : livestock/arable

Funders: The majority of the work is carried out through funding through agri environment schemes. A small part of the work (2 farms) is funded through BNG and a small amount of funding is from Affinity Water

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra),Private sector (commercial / corporate),Agri-payments (CS / SFI),BNG

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Acid grassland,Calcareous grassland,Neutral grassland,Dense scrub,Improved grassland (e.g. coastal and floodplain grazing marsh),Cropland (arable and horticulture / orchards),Hedgerows

Dates: 1995 - 2040

Area: 2000ha (note this is solely the area of land directly under species rich grassland creation - this is the only measurement we use to define the area of 'high value' interventions for nature recovery (i.e we don't include existing /relic species rich grassland nor do we include other areas of farms and holdings that are being managed for nature conservation)

Goals and Objectives: The East Kent Downs Landscape Recovery Project is a Natural England led initiative and the culmination of over 25 years of working with farmers on habitat creation and nature recovery projects in the farmed landscapes of east kent. Using agri environment schemes as the main tool and building long term relationships with over 120 farms, the project has pioneered a novel approach to the way that the schemes are delivered. The project's key ambition has been to work, farm by farm, creating species-rich grasslands from arable land and grass-dominated pastures. Wildflower diversity is achieved through a combination of natural regeneration, native provenance wildflower seeding and green hay spreading with the overall ambition of achieving a new generation of floristically and structurally diverse grasslands. Restoring insect and seed-rich landscapes in this way delivers a sustainable long term and resilient resource of grasslands that drives species recovery across a broad range of taxa, in addition to all the attendant benefits to soil health, water quality and carbon capture. ​An annual rolling programme of new wildflower grassland creation is undertaken each year to ensure that there is a continual succession of new grasslands being created which helps to continually expand the network year by year. Supplementing this with a wider patchwork of the nature friendly farming measures such as grassy margins, bee and bird food plots, regenerative farming practices, and woodland management ensures that nature and food production can go hand in hand. The project is organised into three 'farmer groups' each comprising 30 or more farms who come together to share knowledge, learn and celebrate their successes. Critical to the central 'wildflower-grassland' focus of the project is a close 1-1 working relationship between each farm and a Natural England adviser so that, together, the combined commitment of each farm is able to deliver a well connected network of 'high nature value' habitats across the landscape of the East Kent Downs.

Actions: Using agri environment schemes as the main tool and building long term relationships with over 120 farms, the project has pioneered a novel approach to the way that the schemes are delivered. The project's key ambition has been to work, farm by farm, creating species-rich grasslands from arable land and grass-dominated pastures. Wildflower diversity is achieved through a combination of natural regeneration, native provenance wildflower seeding and green hay spreading with the overall ambition of achieving a new generation of floristically and structurally diverse grasslands. Restoring insect and seed-rich landscapes in this way delivers a sustainable long term and resilient resource of grasslands that drives species recovery across a broad range of taxa, in addition to all the attendant benefits to soil health, water quality and carbon capture. ​An annual rolling programme of new wildflower grassland creation is undertaken each year to ensure that there is a continual succession of new grasslands being created which helps to continually expand the network year by year. Supplementing this with a wider patchwork of the nature friendly farming measures such as grassy margins, bee and bird food plots, regenerative farming practices, and woodland management ensures that nature and food production can go hand in hand.

Action List: Land / water habitat protection (e.g. creating a reserve),Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Species-specific Management,Habitat restoration and rehabilitation,Natural process mimicry (controls to simulate processes),Habitat creation (new features e.g. new woodlands, ponds etc),Habitat linking (joining isolated habitats),Habitat buffering (buffer zones from external threats),Incentive programmes / Conservation payments,Advisory Services,Education / Training / Community Awareness,Regenerative practices (Agriculture / soils)*

Ecosystem Services: Carbon / Net Zero / GHG,Biodiversity

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Project team,Landowner / tenants,Volunteers,Researchers / Academics

Data available: No

High level summary: The East Kent Downs Landscape Recovery Project, running since 1995, demonstrates how a long term focus on creating a new generation of species rich grasslands (2000ha currently created), year by year, is able to drive nature recovery across a wide range of taxa across 120 farms. Critical ingredients include close 1 to1 working with each farm, an opportunity driven approach to allow the network of new grasslands to evolve organically (i.e not based on target areas or driven by 'lines on maps') and building long term relationships with the farming community. Successes include population and distribution increases (new colonisations) in many generalist and specialist butterfly, moth, bumblebee, bat, bird and mammal species (e.g duke of burgundy, small blue, dingy skipper, bright wave moth, brown banded carder bee, large scabious mining bee, yellowhammer, linnet, barn owl, corn bunting, serotine bat, brown hare)

Outputs: Summary report published in Conservation Land Management journal : https://www.eastkentdownsfarmers.co.uk/_files/ugd/051a3b_f99f1c431b244e67aab4097b6b36a644.pdf Map of created wildflower grasslands (2000ha) https://www.eastkentdownsfarmers.co.uk/_files/ugd/051a3b_9751c3a94a764b35813a16bcbafe80b3.pdf

Link / URL: https://www.eastkentdownsfarmers.co.uk/

Project Title: Aire Resilience Company

Programme: Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme

Project Lead: Leeds City Council

Partners: Environment Agency, Leeds City Council, The Rivers Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Aire Rivers Trust, Y&H Regional Flood & Coastal Committee. We also have involvement of the private sector with an increasing number and range of companies joining the ARC business consortium.

Funders: To establish and create the Aire Resilience Company we received funding from the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, the Environment Agency and from a charitable contribution from Beyondly, an environmental consultancy based in the Aire catchment. ARC's central purpose to roll out and maintain natural flood management in the upper Aire catchment for which we are receiving subscriptions mostly from the private sector. They are 'buying' climate resilience, primarily reduced flood risk.

Nature of funding: Public sector (e.g. Defra),Private sector (commercial / corporate),Blended funding

Habitats: Rivers and streams,Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (inc. orchards, wood pasture, lowland and upland woods) ,Hedgerows

Dates: 2026 - 2069

Area: 1304 Ha - but this is working across the upper Aire catchment with an area greater than 356 square kilometres.

Goals and Objectives: The Aire Resilience Company (ARC) is a community interest company whose remit is the delivery and maintenance of natural flood management (NFM) in the upper Aire Catchment. NFM is an integral element of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. Slowing the flow and holding water in the upper catchment is the first line of flood defence for Leeds. ARC is a broker whereby the private sector 'buy's climate resilience thereby providing a climate resilient city and regional economy in which they operate. The premise being that you do not have to flood to be affected by flooding. Revenues raised then flow to farmer/landowners and land managers to host and maintain the NFM interventions for the long term in six identified priority sub catchments of the upper Aire. This provides a long-term sustainable revenue source which benefits rural, urban and private sector stakeholders.

Actions: Over five years ARC will deliver 1240 hectares of soil health interventions plus 64 hectares of further landscape interventions such as hedgerows, bunded hedgerows, tree planting etc.

Action List: Land / water management,Habitat / natural process restoration,Education / Training / Community Awareness,Regenerative practices (Agriculture / soils)*

Ecosystem Services: Flood and Drought,Soil Health

Baseline Monitoring: Yes

Accredited methods: Yes

Who is monitoring: Consultants,Researchers / Academics,Other

Data available: Not known

High level summary: The Aire Resilience Company (ARC) is an independent Community Interest Company (CIC) facilitating the delivery of long-term, evidence-based natural flood management interventions (NFM) in the mid and upper Aire Valley. These NFM measures will complement and enhance the protection afforded by the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (LFAS). This approach will create long-term resilience against the impact of climate change and ensure the future protection of Leeds and its surrounding areas for decades to come. ARC is built on a consortium of local businesses and institutions all playing a leading role in increasing resilience and reducing the risk of the River Aire flooding in Leeds. As members of the ARC consortium, businesses benefit from enhanced flood risk reduction along with a range of additional benefits derived from using methods that work with nature to manage the impact of heavy rainfall.

Outputs: None at present

Link / URL: https://aireresilience.org/