We're delighted to announce that our Love Your River Stour project has been extended thanks to £100,000 of funding from the WMCA Community Green Grants!

The focus of the project will now move to a stretch of the River Stour running from Cradley Heath to Lye and will see us:

• Restore a further 3.5 hectares of ancient woodlands along the river.
• Enhance eight hectares of plantation and other woodlands.
• Tackle pollution by removing man-made barriers and re-naturalising the river.
• Create a hectare of species-rich grassland.
• Improve public access.
• Run community engagement activities and volunteer days.
• Provide 24 young people with the opportunity to train in environmental restoration.

Simon Atkinson, our Head of Conservation, said: “We are delighted to be the first recipient of a large grant from the WMCA Community Green Grants programme to continue our river restoration project on the Stour. This funding will enable us to extend our focus into areas of Sandwell and Dudley and restore the river to tackle the ecological and climate crises. We look forward to working with local communities in Cradley Heath and Lye to join us as we work for nature’s recovery.”

Love Your River Stour has already been a great success in Wolverhampton and Stourbridge, where it has seen an improvement in river quality and an increase in people visiting the waterway.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, visited us to hear how the grant was enabling the Love Your River Stour project to be extended.

The Mayor said: “It was a pleasure to meet the Love Your River Stour project team. They deserve huge congratulations on the work they’ve already done and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to extend a helping hand through this grant to create even more beautiful and wildlife-rich natural spaces that will be a source of tremendous pride for the local community. At the same time, this grant helps us to support the training of more young people in environmental restoration.

“We know that time spent in nature can be immensely beneficial when it comes to our mental and physical wellbeing, so I hope to see many more projects benefit from our funding. If we can continue to open up waterways and green spaces right across our region, we can make a tangible and wonderful difference to the quality of life for residents in the months and years ahead.”

This is the biggest award since the Community Green Grants scheme was launched at the start of 2022 to fund projects that increase people’s access to nature, especially in deprived communities, by improving green spaces or enhancing the local environment in other ways.

To date, grants totalling £344,000 have been awarded to 13 projects across the region.

We look forward to updating you on the progress of the project in due course!