Last updated: June 2024
This intervention aimed to address low water levels and low water quality in the Sandall Beat Wood and Cantley Park. The problems have been identified by the council and this project was planned to improve the water levels as well as the water quality. This also helped in improving the gross water flow of the regions and protected the wetland habitats. In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the project successfully engaged local communities. (Ref 2).
Rewetting Sandall Beat Wood (2017)
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, retrieved 08/18/2018 from Jamie McEwan
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
The objectives of the project were to address urban diffuse pollution at Sandall Beat and Cantley Park by improving water flow and creating new wetland habitat to the benefit of water quality in Fores drain. The project also aimed to engage local communities, highlighting urban diffuse pollution issues and solutions, through a volunteer survey programme and an interpretation project delivered by local schools. (Ref 1)
Implementation activities
A report commissioned by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council in 2013 analysed water levels in the drains of Sandall Beat and Cantley Park. With the exception of the two main drainage channels,Mains Drain and Fore’s Drain, the report stated that none of the drains were found to have any water present at any time. This has an impact on the sites SSSI status. Water quality issues were also noted, with road and roof drainage discharged at the pumping station at the head of Fore’s Drain likely to be the cause. The report indicated that cross-connection of domestic waste water into roof
gulley’s could account for some of the water quality issues. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust subsequently co-funded a report in 2014/15 to identify potential measures that could be taken to address these issues at the site. The following measures have been taken. 1. Created wetland habitat with macrophyte planting, 2. De-silting of ditches and installation of coir rolls with marginal planting to improve the water flow and create high-quality habitat, 3. Execution of these activities in engagement with volunteers (Ref 1, 3).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust was in charge of the planning and execution of this project, but it is mentioned that to allign goals with the Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council they were able to pull more funds (Ref 1). The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, key organisation in this project, is part of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. The not-for-profit business (private sector) WREN partly funded the project (Ref 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The restoration of the Sandall Beat Woodland is part of the "Doncaster Green Infrastructure Strategy" and this is the key focus of this project (Ref 2). )
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
Ref 1: River Torne Catchment Partnership. (2016). Progressing our projects.
Ref 2: Doncaster Council. (2014). Doncaster Green Infrastructure Strategy.
Ref 3: Doncaster Council. (nd.). Green spaces, green places; Doncaster's greenspace strategy 2008-2011
Ref 4: ECUS (2015). Sandall Beat Wood SSSI and Cantley Park Hydrological Assessment and Design Study. Sheffield: Ecus Ltd.
Ref 5. Doncaster Council (2020) Sandall Beat Wood. Retrieved from Source link on 25th October, 2020.
Ref 2: Doncaster Council. (2014). Doncaster Green Infrastructure Strategy.
Ref 3: Doncaster Council. (nd.). Green spaces, green places; Doncaster's greenspace strategy 2008-2011
Ref 4: ECUS (2015). Sandall Beat Wood SSSI and Cantley Park Hydrological Assessment and Design Study. Sheffield: Ecus Ltd.
Ref 5. Doncaster Council (2020) Sandall Beat Wood. Retrieved from Source link on 25th October, 2020.