WATER FOR WILDLIFE 

Water for Wildlife is a unique partnership supporting wetland conservation across the UK. It aims to co-ordinate the wetland work of The Wildlife Trusts, working with water companies, the Environment Agency and other key partners, to provide a more consistent and targeted approach to wetland conservation. It will also support national and regional project development, raise the profile of wetland conservation, and encourage sharing of best practice between the trusts and their partners. 

Over 2007/8, statistics collected for the Water for Wildlife (WfW) partnership have shown that nearly £240,000 from the Environment Agency, and £360,000 from the water industry have been put in, with match funding of £820,000 from other sources.  Nearly 5,000 volunteer days were worked by local people through the Wildlife Trusts.  This helped the partners achieve:

- 9,5000ha of wetlands maintained or restored.
- 750 km of rivers protected or restored
- 1,900 otter surveys and 1,600 water vole surveys carreid out.
- Over 10,000 people participated in walks and talks.

The survey also showed that 100% of Trusts thought that otter populations were stable or increasing whilst 59% said that water vole populations were stable or increasing - a much better picture than the 30% from the report two years ago. For a full report, click on WfW 2007/8 headline statistics.

How does the Water for Wildlife poject work?

The project manager is employed by RSWT, and works across the UK to support officers who are actively involved in partnership projects. These include wetland restoration and management, otter and water vole survey and protection, advice to landowners and local authorities and involving local people in practical conservation activities.

A steering group of representatives of all 3 partner organisations guides the project. The group also works to encourage regional arms of the respective organisations to work more closely together.

The project manager has the following remit:

• To maintain an overview of Water for Wildlife projects throughout the country and create a database to record activity and projects.
• To facilitate communication between the partners in order to give cohesion to the partnership wetland work carried out UK wide.
• To support local trusts in developing Water for Wildlife projects, particularly with regard to the water industry's planning process.
• To raise awareness of the joint achievements of Water for Wildlife through publicity and media.
• To share best practice between partners and particularly within The Wildlife Trusts

Water UK
The water industry is divided into 12 regional water and sewerage companies, with 15 smaller water-only companies. The companies are all members of Water UK, the organisation that represents the industry at national and European level.

Water companies directly supporting Water for Wildlife from 2007-10 are: Anglian Water;Bristol Water; Dwr Cymru Welsh Water;  Portsmouth Water; Severn Trent Water; South East Water; South Staffordshire Water; Thames Water; Wessex Water, South West Water, Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water and Southern Water.

The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. The agency has 26 local areas and works on pollution control of air, land and water, flood and coastal defence, water resources, conservation, fisheries management, recreation and navigation.

For more information, please contact the Water for Wildlife UK manager:

RSWT, The Kiln
Waterside, Mather Road
Newark, Nottinghamshire
NG24 1WT
Tel 01636 670000
Email enquiries@wildlifetrusts.org