Last updated: September 2024
Sourced from Northern Worcestershire, the River Stour has played a significant role in the industrial heritage of Birmingham and the Black Country (Ref 1). It consists of 11 Water Framework Directive water bodies and multiple tributaries, spanning 200 km in length (Ref 2, 3). Once a pristine Salmonid river that powered the Industrial Revolution, rapid industrialization severely impacted the river, leaving it heavily polluted with sewage (ibid.). Initiated by the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT) in 2021, the Love Your River Stour (LYRS) project focuses on Dudley and Wolverhampton, aiming to transform the River Stour and its surrounding green spaces into a beautiful, wildlife-rich source of pride for local communities and to create a corridor for wildlife to thrive through the heart of the Black Country (Ref 4). Phase 1 of the project was completed in June 2023, bringing significant improvements along the river (Ref 5, 6, 7, 8). In Phase 2, the project will extend to a stretch running through Cradley Heath and Lye (Ref 7, 8). This initiative is funded by the UK Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
The River Stour
Copyright by BBCWT
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Other
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Invasive alien species
- Poor water quality
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green corridors (including connectivity between urban and rural ecosystems), Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Protection of riparian vegetation, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Habitat conservation, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
Phase 1 (Completed):
To improve the condition of the River Stour, its tributaries (including Smestow Brook), and the surrounding habitats to create a thriving wildlife corridor through the heart of the Black Country (Ref 3).
To increase community engagement with the river and local green spaces by encouraging residents to take action to protect these areas for the future (ibid.).
To promote the growth of native flora by removing invasive species, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting local pollinators.
To monitor aquatic invertebrates to conserve and improve biodiversity.
Phase 2 (Ongoing):
To improve habitats and water quality while expanding the urban river restoration project into Lye in Dudley and Cradley Heath in Sandwell (Ref 7).
To increase the number of local residents accessing the two sites, with the aim of ensuring that everyone in the West Midlands has access to high-quality natural areas within a 300-metre walk from their home (Ref 7, 8).
Implementation activities
Phase 1 (Completed) involved work in four locations: near Stambermill Viaduct, at Smestow Brook, next to Amblecote, and by Seth Somers Park. This included clearing several years of silt from pathways at Stambermill to reconnect the community with the river and enhancing low-diversity grasslands by removing bramble, scarifying the ground, and spreading green hay to improve biodiversity. Wildflower seeds were sown, scrub was cleared, and aquatic invertebrates were monitored to assess water quality improvements. Wetlands and ponds were established to create rare habitats and enhance ecological connectivity. Woodland areas were thinned to allow more light for native plants, and invasive species like Himalayan balsam were removed. Community engagement included guided walks, workshops, and school visits, with corporate employees participating in habitat management activities.
Phase 2 (Ongoing) will expand the "Love Your River Stour" project into the Black Country areas of Lye and Cradley Heath, transforming 3.5 hectares of ancient woodland and 2 kilometres of river, creating 1 hectare of species-rich grassland, and planting 2,000 trees and shrubs.
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Low-income neighborhoods
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Control and clean invasive alien species
- Means for conservation governance
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Clear and control invasive alien species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The LYRS project is led by Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust and funded by governmental initiatives. In Phase 1 of the project National Lottery Heritage Fund provided funding in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission to Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT) from the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies (Ref 2). BBCWT also works in partnership with Environment Agency in LYRS project (Ref 5). Ongoing Phase 2 of the project is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Community Green Grants scheme (Ref 7). Local college students support the project by undertaking surveys and practical management sessions in close collaboration with the project (Ref 5). Weekly volunteer sections are carried out to improve the river habitats, enabling engagement of local citizens and volunteers in management and implementation (ibid.).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project mentions the EU's Water Framework Directive (7))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project names Access to Nature, Conservation and The Green Recovery Challenge Fund as one of its main drivers. The fund is part of The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution " plan in the UK. (7))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Achieved improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Expected increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Achieved reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Expected increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Improved physical health
- Achieved improved physical health
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Protection of natural heritage
- Achieved protection of natural heritage
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Benwell, J. (n.d.). The Past, Present and Future of the River Stour. Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust (n.d.). Love Your River Stour project awarded £249,700. Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
3.
(n.d.). Love Your River Stour. Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Vukmirovic, J. (2021). Wildlife project will transform River Stour into source of pride. Express & Star, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Clague, S. (2022). Love Your River Stour Project update. Wildlife Magizine, p. Issue 148 Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Hodler, B. (2023). First phase of Love Your River Stour project now completed. Stourbridge News, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
7.
West Midlands Combined Authority (2023). Black Country river restoration funded by £100,000 WMCA Community Green Grant. West Midlands Combined Authority, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
8.
West Midlands Combined Authority (n.d.). Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust Love Your River Stour- Cradley Heath and Lye. West Midlands Combined Authority, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
9.
O'Brien, L. (2023). Further restoration of River Stour to get under way thanks to £100,000 grant. Express & Star, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Love Your River Stour (2022). Facebook. Facebook, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Love Your River Stour (2023). Facebook. Facebook, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
12.
ONS (2022). 2021 Census Profile for Lye and Stourbridge North Ward (as of 2022), Dudley Local Authority and England Country. Census 2021, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
13.
ONS (2022). 2021 Census Profile for Wollaston and Stourbridge Town Ward (as of 2022), Dudley Local Authority and England Country. Census 2021, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
14.
ONS (2022). 2021 Census Profile for Halesowen South Ward (as of 2022), Dudley Local Authority and England Country. CEnsus 2021, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
15.
ONS (2022). 2021 Census Profile for Tettenhall Wightwick Ward (as of 2022), Wolverhampton Local Authority and England Country. Census 2021, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
Love Your River Stour river restoration officers Sally Clague and David Howard by the River Stour
Image by Susan Jones / Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.