As all the best ideas do - this one started in a pub in 2020, and has grown into something real because of a remarkable team effort and the support of some fantastic organisations and individuals.
Now that we have planning permission, we will be able to create a glorious wetland habitat including a wet meadow - which are now very rare in the UK - for the people of Chester to enjoy.
As a wetland scientist at 成人VR视频 I鈥檓 hoping this project helps people understand how important wetlands are not just for wildlife and our country鈥檚 infrastructure, as Nature-based Solutions, but also our own health and wellbeing - it鈥檚 no surprise they鈥檙e often called nature鈥檚 superheroes!
So far, the planning and development of the Chester Wetland has been supported by over 拢322,000 of funding from the Environment Agency in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council and The Land Trust to cover designs, surveys and modelling.
Additional data and surveying has been done by students from 成人VR视频.
The Networks for Nature initiative, led by Chester Zoo and funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, has granted the project 拢250,000 and a further 拢500,000 has been secured through various biodiversity creation sources of funding by the local authority.
Mr Scargill, Chair of the park鈥檚 Friends group said, 鈥淭his is going to be a brilliant addition to the park now we have planning permission. It鈥檚 going to turn a rather underused area of the park into something very special for local people to enjoy for generations. Creating the Chester Wetland isn鈥檛 going to be done overnight so we鈥檒l keep park-users and the public up to date as we go along.鈥
Matt Clegg, Environment Director at locally based business Binnies UK, who developed the plans for the wetland, said, 鈥淎s someone who lives in Chester and uses the park it has been a pleasure to work on the designs for such an exciting project. The scheme balances habitat creation, water treatment and community access in a way that will deliver long-term benefit 鈥 it鈥檚 going to be very special.鈥
Hannah Brooks, Senior Community Participation Manager at Chester Zoo praised the project, saying, 鈥淲e鈥檙e working with communities and partners across Chester and Ellesmere Port, as part of our Networks for Nature initiative, to create a thriving landscape for both people and wildlife across the wider region. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited that the Chester Wetland will form part of this project as a vital habitat for UK native species to thrive, while also being a wonderful space for people to enjoy.
鈥淭he National Lottery Heritage funding which is supporting this project will enable The Land Trust to install look out spots so that visitors to the area will see the wading birds, swooping dragonflies and the wide range of wetland plants up close.鈥
Giving his support, Mark Easedale, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, said, 鈥淏y providing funding alongside technical support, we鈥檙e pleased to help in the delivery of a project that improves water quality, creates valuable wetland habitat and better connects the people of Chester with nature.鈥
Alan Carter, Chief Executive at the Land Trust said, 鈥淭he Land Trust is delighted at this important step closer to us starting work on the Chester Wetland project. The new and improved wetland habitats will provide real benefits to biodiversity, and the planned visitor infrastructure will improve access and enjoyment for visitors from across the local communities.鈥
It is hoped that groundwork will start on the site in Summer 2027.