A five-year project to improve the quality of a local river has been launched by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Over 140 hectares of land within the River Blythe SSSI (Site of special Scientific Interest) will be worked on by the trust's Tame Valley wetlands team.

The project, funded by the Environment Agency and Severn Trent, will see the creation and management of wetlands, planting of trees, hedges and wildflower meadows, and restoration of critical areas of the river.

The trust says the project will improve the river for amphibians, mammals and fish, increase the number of pollinators and will generally improve the biodiversity in the area.

Andrew Apanasionok, Tame Valley wetlands water and habitats specialist officer said: "We have been taken aback by the hugely positive response to the project proposal we have had from landowners, farmers, river users and other stakeholders in the area.

"We have developed some massively positive relationship with delivery partners.

"We are very excited to get started on this amazing project which will focus on habitat improvement, creation and monitoring within the river Blythe catchment and the river itself."

(Image by Robin Stott via geograph.org.uk)

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