The Wild Trout Trust report:
A group of conservationists from the Stour Valley in Kent are celebrating the news that it has received a £24,806 funding boost from SITA Trust to carry out improvements to the wildlife habitat of the River Great Stour at Godinton Park.
The river is currently a dredged and heavily modified channel with poor quality habitat for wildlife.
The project will re-create a more varied river channel which will support a healthy environment for fish, insects, plants and birds as well as providing greater resilience to periods of flood and drought. The grant will fund the materials and machinery for the project, allowing the Wild Trout Trust staff and volunteers to carry out the work.
This project is a partnership between the Wild Trout Trust, Godinton House Preservation Trust, the Upper Stour Restoration Group, the Kent Countryside Partnership, the Environment Agency and SITA Trust.
Paul Bates, project coordinator for the Upper Stour Restoration Volunteers, said:
“Important conservation work at the local community level is not possible without external financial backing, specialist expertise from charities such as the Wild Trout Trust and the commitment of local volunteers & supporters. All these elements are essential to get a project started & successfully completed. We are therefore extremely appreciative of the very generous funding provided by the SITA Trust”.
Marek Gordon CEO and Chairman of SITA Trust added:
“We are delighted to have been able to support this project through the Landfill Communities Fund. This important source of funding has been available since 1997 and has provided such worthy projects with more than £1.2 billion.”
SITA Trust provides funding through the Landfill Communities Fund. Funding is available for available that enhance communities and enrich nature. For information on how to apply for funding from SITA Trust call (01454) 262910 or visit www.sitatrust.org.uk
