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01/02/2012 09:47: Funding Boost for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has received a £95, 448 funding boost from SITA Trust. The Blooming Meadows Project will reverse the decline of species rich grassland in West Yorkshire, creating a better and more joined up habitat for wildlife and for the enjoyment of future generations.

SITA Trust provides funding through the Landfill Communities Fund. Funding is available for community and environmental groups to carry out a range of improvement projects.

The funding will enable YWT to purchase specialist grassland management equipment for the West Yorkshire Lowland Grassland Group, to manage a number of sites across the 5 districts.

According to the Grassland Trust, 97% of our lowland meadows have disappeared since the Second World War. The Blooming Meadows project will work across 10 initial sites to create 35 hectares and restore 37 hectares of species rich grassland. The sites include YWT’s flagship sustainable farming project at Stirley Community Farm near Huddersfield and the other 9 are sites managed by Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield councils.

The project will ultimately have a wider impact, since it will provide specialist grassland management equipment for use across West Yorkshire, as part of a ‘machinery ring’. YWT staff will provide training for the council staff and others in the best use of the equipment.

Brian Lavelle, West Yorkshire Programme Manager for YWT, said "Meadows require specialist management for the wealth of plants and insects that use them. This funding will help us and our partners to bring back the flowers, bees and other wildlife to our meadows now and into the future as part of our Living Landscapes programme."

Jools Granville of SITA Trust said " As we enter our 15th year as an environmental funder, we’re delighted to be able to join this, very special, project as funding partner."