Last updated: April 2022
"The proposal is to create a leisure landscape in the countryside to the south of Wakefield, Featherstone and the South East Rural Renaissance areas. The project looks at integrating a series of existing environmental and historic attractions such as Nostell Priory Estate, Newmillerdam Country Park, Haw Park and Anglers Country Park in a landscape that is shaped by reclaimed open cast mining, and features e.g. an innovative forest planting scheme". The proposal is part of the ‘Strategic projects’ to deliver Wakefield’s vision for green infrastructure. (Ref. 1, 2)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
- Real estate development
- Employment/job creation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Improved governance of green or blue areas
Project objectives
The overall aim is to help deliver Wakefield’s vision for green infrastructure (through the ‘Wakefield forest’ project). According to the Green Infrastructure Plan, "the project also creates the opportunity to integrate the ’Wild Went Water Voles’ project, which aims to secure and expand the population of water voles”. This has, in turn, the potential to contribute to the Nine Lakes project, “as improvements to the environment will enhance habitats and biodiversity and can, in turn, form attractive surroundings to visit”. (Ref. 1)
The project aims to create “a major sports, leisure and tourism destination across Wakefield and Featherstone could boost regeneration and create 500 jobs”. The project features an innovative forest planting scheme (in connection strategic projects mentioned above). (Ref. 2)
Implementation activities
The ‘Core outcomes’ of the project are: “Increasing investment into the region; Strengthening the platform for knowledge exchange through exhibition and demonstration of woodland related technologies and products; Enhancing the recreational offer in the district for the community as well as attracting more tourists; Opportunities for habitat expansion; Creating opportunities to contribute to local biodiversity gain and to reducing flood risk through the management of tributaries to the Calder; Creating new job opportunities; Overall improvements in health and well-being and reduced health inequalities”. (Ref. 1)
Regarding the status of the project:: The proposed park is to be developed over ten or more years in discrete phases-each of between 3 months and 12 months duration. (Ref. 3)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore valued species
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
- Private foundation/trust
- Other
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
“The land within the Ninelakes area is owned by a range of individuals [landowners] and organizations including Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Nostell Estates, The National Trust, and Metcalfes. The land will continue to be owned by them, but each participating landowner will enter into an agreement to allow their land to be included in the project, on a commercial basis, if and when it is needed for one of the park projects.” (Ref. 5)
The’ Lead Partners’ are Wakefield Council, Nostell Priory Estate, UK Coal (as land owners) and Forestry Commission. The ‘Delivery Partners’ are Environment Agency, British Waterways, Natural England. (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
(Wakefield Council’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy (with its overall spatial vision) and Wakefield Council's Green infrastructure plan. (Ref. 1) )
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- More sustainable tourism
- Attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref. 1. Wakefield Council (2010) Green infrastructure plan. Source: Source link [Accessed 30 September 2020]
Ref. 2. Wakefield Express (2010I Hope for massive leisure park. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 3. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Environmental Issues. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 4. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Project outline. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 5. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Ownership management. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 6. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Planning costs. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 7. Wakefield Council (2016) Wakefield rural area greenspace report. Core Documents. LR5.7. Source: Source link [Accessed 30 September 2020]
Ref. 2. Wakefield Express (2010I Hope for massive leisure park. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 3. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Environmental Issues. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 4. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Project outline. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 5. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Ownership management. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 6. The Ninelakes Project (n.d.) Planning costs. FAQS. Information obtained: 2017-07-14. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 7. Wakefield Council (2016) Wakefield rural area greenspace report. Core Documents. LR5.7. Source: Source link [Accessed 30 September 2020]