Grant to protect River Allen wildlife (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Grant to protect River Allen wildlife
2:00pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News
Amanda Broom, of Dorset Wildlife Trust
A DORSET river, which is one of England’s most important chalk streams, has been given a major boost to restore it and protect its wildlife.
The River Allen, which runs through Wimborne, has received a grant of £44,480 from Biffa Award, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, using landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.
The community partnership River Allen Project, led by Dorset Wildlife Trust, will restore parts of the chalk stream for the benefit of vulnerable wildlife including fish, invertebrates and water voles.
In consultation with local people and the Environment Agency, work can begin on plans for improvements to the river, including opening up the tree canopy to encourage the growth of key chalk stream plants and restoring the natural water flow for the benefit of fly larvae and breeding fish.
Additional £15,000 funding for the detailed plans, displays and public awareness events, has been granted by Sembcorp Bournemouth Water.
“Chalk streams are the richest river habitats for wildlife and the River Allen holds the strongest population in Dorset of rare wildlife such as the native white-clawed crayfish,” said Amanda Broom, the trust’s project officer.
“Thanks to the support of the local community and funding from Biffa Award, Sembcorp Bournemouth Water and other supporters, we now have a chance to do something to protect this important and vulnerable habitat and its wildlife before it is too late.”
