Developing our vision for the future Consultation document July 2017 Tame Valley Wetlands – a vision for the future 1 Foreword Welcome to the Tame Valley Wetlands The Tame Valley Wetlands has the – a wonderful, watery landscape, capacity to help the region face the located in the heart of the country challenges of industrial growth, between Birmingham and Tamworth. climate change, food and water These vital wetlands clean up our security, and threats to biodiversity. water, provide us with resources, help It has the potential to provide vital to reduce flooding, and give us and natural resources and services to wildlife a space to use and enjoy. supply our ever-growing demands and populations. It can play a key role Wildlife and humans alike have been in improving the quality of life, health drawn to the life-giving properties of and well-being of local people, which this area for centuries. The plentiful will boost the economy, attract new resources of fresh water, fertile business and tourism, and improve soils and rich mineral deposits culture and heritage. With careful have all played a role in shaping the restoration and conservation, it can landscape we see today. But past continue to benefit both wildlife and human activity has had a detrimental people, now and into the future. effect on our wildlife; and, today, major development pressures from new housing, industrial and infrastructure projects are continuing to have an impact, while the unpredictable Living in the Tame Valley, weather patterns associated with I’m still discovering new climate change are affecting people, “ and beautiful places, sensitive habitats and species. right in the busy heart of the Midlands. I’ve seen To reverse these trends, we need to the great things that recognise that our ‘natural capital’ working together can – nature’s assets from which we achieve, but there’s still gain benefits such as clean air, fresh lots to do as the region water, materials and goods – must continues to change. I be well-managed in order to prevent hope you’ll work with us it becoming degraded and lost. Such to realise our vision. loss is not only bad for biodiversity, but also affects our own social and George Day, Chair, Tame Valley economic well-being, and health. Wetlands Landscape Partnership” 2 Tame Valley Wetlands – a vision for the future Guy Edwardes/2020VISION/naturepl.com A rich and diverse landscape 1 Broad Meadow LNR Urban Areas 2 Tamworth Castle BIRMINGHAM SUTTON COLDFIELD Rural Areas 3 Warwickshire Moor LNR M6 Rivers, lakes and canals 4 Hodge Lane LNR Tame Way 5 Borrowpit Lakes Heart of England Way 6 Tameside LNR Castle M6 TOLL Centenary Way 7 Kettle Brook LNR Vale 8 Dosthill Park LNR NORTH West 9 RSPB Middleton Lakes SOLIHULL 0 Middleton Hall Castle River South North !¡ Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Bromwich Tame !™ Kingsbury Water Park !£ East Kingsbury Meadow LNR River Curdworth !¢ Lea Marston Lakes Cole Water Orton Middleton !∞ Whitacre Heath SSSI M6 !§ Hams Hall Environmental Centre M42 Drayton River Bassett Tame !¶ Ladywalk Nature Reserve !• Shustoke Reservoir !ª Cole End Park LNR @º Castle Vale Conservation Area @¡ Meriden Park LNR Coleshill River Tame River I am very encouraged Blythe Kingsbury River to see the positive SSSI Anker M42 TAMWORTH “ impact the Partnership is having on the Tame Valley Wetlands. It’s vital we work together on a landscape-scale to Hurley secure a sound future Wood End for people and wildlife. River Dr Ed Green, CEO, Bourne Dr Ed Green, WarwickshireCEO, Warwickshire Wildlife Wildlife” Trust Trust. Map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence No. 100018285. Tame Valley Wetlands – a vision for the future 3 Working together The Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Due to the area’s existing value, and Partnership (TVWLP) was set up in the potential to further improve 2005. We promote the area and look this through wetland conservation, for ways to restore and enhance this the Tame Valley Wetlands has unique landscape of surprise and been identified as a key place for beauty in the heart of the Midlands. landscape-scale conservation and partnership working and has been Partnership members include local, awarded Nature Improvement Area regional and national bodies. The (NIA) status. Board consists of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (Lead Partner), Canal To enhance the resilience of our & River Trust, Environment Agency, landscapes to environmental Natural England, North Warwickshire pressures, we need to create more Borough Council, RSPB, Staffordshire places for nature that are bigger, Wildlife Trust and Warwickshire better and joined up. County Council. The Partnership has a wealth of expertise covering In this booklet, we provide a wide range of disciplines, such as opportunities for everyone with a conservation, planning, development, stake in the area to help achieve this community engagement, regeneration vision. These are not set in stone, and heritage. but are a starting point for a wider consultation on what is needed if we Our values are: are to provide a landscape that is < INCLUSIVITY. We are open and rich in wildlife and accessible to all. welcoming, accessible to all. We hope that you will join us on our < SUstainabilitY. We invest in journey in bringing this vision to life. conservation and regeneration for long-term benefits. I’m delighted that the < ENTHUsiasm. We are dedicated, Environment Agency are creative and knowledgeable. working hand in hand < Cooperation. We work together, “ with the TVWLP to help sharing ideas and skills. its vision become < TransparencY. We are clear and a reality. accountable in all our operations. < Respect. We treat each other and Richard Macdonald CBE, Deputy our environment well. Chairman, Environment Agency” 4 Tame Valley Wetlands – a vision for the future H. Walsh/BBOWT A proven track record The TVWLP has been working in the Tame Valley Wetlands since 2005, achieving much for nature conservation, engagement and regeneration. In 2014, the Partnership was awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other sources to run the Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme until 2018. This £2.5 million Scheme is restoring built and natural heritage, and reconnecting local people with their landscape across the Tame Valley Wetlands. Here are a few of our accomplishments over a three year period. HERItaGE RESTORatION accESS IMPROVEMENTS HEALTHY HABITATS ENGAGING ACTIVITIES 1,196 metres of hedgerow 5,362 participants restored and created engaged in events and training 660 metres of river 3,190 school children re-naturalised and young people engaged 16 hectares of wetland 221,398 Facebook and habitat restored and created Twitter total reach WETLAND CREatION TRAINING AND SKIllS GETTING INVOLVED Fantastic people making 15,000 hours of “ volunteer time donated outdoors so £145,000 of work much more achieved through volunteer fun. activities 110 work parties run Ms Willetts, local resident via Facebook” Photos: K. Sugden/WWT, C. Wilkinson/RSPB, T. Haselden/WWT, R. Gries/WWT Tame Valley Wetlands – a vision for the future 5 About the area TAME VallEY WETLANDS: Between Birmingham Provides multiple ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, such as: and Tamworth, following 29 km of the River Tame < Water provision, improved water quality and flood management Designated sites: < Carbon storage in grassland, wetlands Sites of Special million and woodland 55 Scientific Interest, 2 people on the < Recreational opportunities and health Local Nature Reserves, doorstep improvements Local Geological Sites and Local Wildlife Sites < Cultural opportunities, increased learning and skills Designated a Priority Species under the back on the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity River Tame NatURE Framework include I am thrilled that the OttERS after many IMPROVEMENT < Barn owl Tame Valley Wetlands’ years due to designation by the Local AREA (NIA) < Lapwing “ Nature Partnership as by the Local Nature < Bittern Warwickshire, Coventry BEttER watER QUALITY Partnership to create a < Hedgehog and Solihull’s first joined-up and resilient Nature Improvement < Bats ecological network. Area is helping to fulfil hectares The first NIA in < Otter the Government’s of wetland 1,000 Warwickshire, Coventry < Water vole Natural Environment White Paper and habitat and Solihull. < Black poplar Biodiversity 2020 Strategy. It is also close to my constituency and 500,000+ annual visitors to Providing vital Regionally and nationally will make this valuable the area’s largest green spaces connectivity important MIGRatION ROUTE green space more for hundreds of birds; nationally accessible. and functioning 9,632,591 total visitor market important for species like shoveler, floodplain (local people and tourist availability) tufted duck and little egret Dame Caroline Spelman” MP 6 Tame Valley Wetlands – a vision for the future Heritage and nature intertwined INDUSTRY TRANSPORT Through the extraction of coal, Road, rail and canal routes snake clay, sand and gravel, industry has across the Tame Valley Wetlands, played a crucial role in sculpting shaping it and creating strong the landscape and shaping its connections from north to south. communities and economy. This These routes are essential for influence continues today. revitalisation of the area. NATURE COMMUNITY The Tame Valley hosts the largest From prehistoric times, the area series of interconnected wetlands has sheltered communities – in the region. The restoration of interweaving people