Green Recovery Challenge Fund

This funding has helped nature recovery network across the West Midlands and has delivered environmental enhancements including the creation of wildlife corridors reconnecting fragmented habitat for endangered species such as water voles.

The project involved improving over 30 miles of canals and enhancing seven SSSI's (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). A 12 mile community orchard has been planted between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

The canal project also created a partnership with the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, supporting up to 500 schools with environmental learning, to inspire the next generation. Walsall Council is also part of the partnership.

Government funded

The Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. The fund was delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

The key projects were to:

• Improve over 30 miles of waterway habitats linking seven nature reserves. This included linking 14 fragmented local nature reserves and greenspaces adjacent to Wyrley & Essington and Walsall Canals contributing to creating a Nature Recovery Network
• Carry out enhancements to seven SSSI's including along the Cannock Extension and Anglesey Branch Canal and at Fens Pools Nature Reserve, Belvide Reservoir, Bittel Reservoir, Shrewley Cutting and at Brewins Cutting
• Create five community orchards and plant 500 fruit trees along our canals in Wolverhampton to Worcester to create the World's longest community orchard
• Improve the condition of 4 miles of hedgerows
• Extend or establish rare habitat heathland at five locations, including South Staffordshire, Walsall, Smethwick and West Bromwich
• Create 15 new ponds to support SSSI features
• Provide citizen science opportunities to 100 volunteers who can help with water vole and otter surveys along our canals
• Support 500 schools to embed learning through nature