Restoring landscapes from cities to peaks

A new project is set to help wildlife thrive, reduce carbon, boost flood resilience and reduce fire risk in Kirklees and Calderdale.

Working in partnership with Calderdale Council, we have secured grant funding to prepare for a large-scale project that crosses our borders.

The Calder and Colne Landscape Links (CCaLL) project aims to restore moorland, plant trees and create wildlife-rich habitats to better connect valley towns with the moorland peaks along the rivers Calder and Colne.

The project will be funded with £750,000 from the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Landscape Regeneration Program and £100,000 from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

We work with partners such as Calderdale Council, Calder and Colne Rivers Trust, Environmental Projects in Kirklees (EPIKs) and Moors for the Future Partnership and with support from the Environment Agency. The project has been designed and will be delivered in partnership for our shared local places.

Taking action to tackle climate change is a priority for Kirklees and Calderdale and we both aim to be net zero carbon by 2038.

The CCaLL project will help us achieve this goal by:

• Planting more trees, hedges, woodlands and wildflower meadows, restoring peat bogs and creating wetlands. All of these act as ‘sponges’, absorbing carbon dioxide and keeping it out of the atmosphere, as well as providing homes for wildlife.

• We will also work with local farmers to manage land in a way that allows both food production and nature to thrive, while mitigating the impact of climate change as much as possible and reducing carbon emissions.

• And improved soil management will result in healthier soils that are better for agriculture, food production, natural flood management and carbon sequestration.

The initial two-year project will focus on working with landowners and other stakeholders, designing the actions, identifying and securing any necessary permits, costing the works and finding contractors to do the work, while bringing in additional funding for the works. Up to nine new jobs will be created and will be announced this spring.

Expected long-term benefits include:

• Reduced risk of flooding to homes and businesses as rainwater is retained on restored wetlands, slowing its flow into valley cities. This builds on the excellent natural flood management work already taking place in the South Pennines.

• Lower risk of bog fires because a healthy bog is less flammable.

• More people who can enjoy the benefits of a healthy, natural and cultural environment – ​​for example, facilitating access for wheelchair and pushchair users, older people and those with dementia, access to the countryside, canal meander paths and footpaths rich in culture. heritage linking villages, mills and monuments.

Enhancing and creating new natural habitats for wildlife and helping to protect threatened native species, resulting in a healthier, more vibrant and interconnected mix of animals and plants.

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, strategic director for corporate strategy, commissioning and public health, said:

“Climate change will continue to throw challenges in our way and as the risk of floods and bushfires increases with global temperatures, we need to look to the future to protect our homes, local infrastructure and of course wildlife.

“We need to work with the natural world if we want it to work for us – that’s what this project will enable us to do with our colleagues in Calderdale and the other project partners.

“This is a really vital project which will help reduce flood risk, increase biodiversity, improve local air quality and increase climate resilience in Kirklees and Calderdale.”

Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Active Travel and Housing, said:

“Securing this funding is a massive achievement and testament to the brilliant work Calderdale and Kirklees are doing to tackle the climate change and biodiversity crises.

“This comes as Calderdale continues to put its teeth into implementing its Climate Action Plan, following publication in December 2023. The Calder and Colne Landscape Links project will make a significant contribution to our net zero and biodiversity targets and complements our work on Flood Action Plan.

“We have talented and enthusiastic partners on board. Together we will improve over 10,000 hectares of land in Calderdale and Kirklees, linking the valley towns with the moorland peaks through new and improved habitats.

“The richer and more diverse our variety of plant and animal species, the more resilient we are to climate change and the better able we are to use natural methods to protect ourselves against disasters like floods and bushfires.”

Jeff Keenlyside, Director of Environmental Projects in Kirklees (EPIKs), added:

“EPIKs is pleased to be a partner in the CCaLL project. The Calder and Colne river valleys have fantastic potential for nature restoration and as a connected natural green space for local communities to enjoy. This is an ideal opportunity to realize that potential.”

Tony Price, Business Development Manager at Moors for the Future Partnership, said:

“We are delighted with this opportunity to contribute to the project in the uplands of Calderdale and Kirklees.

“The initial phase will produce plans that will ultimately increase resilience to climate change by returning the marshes to a more natural and wetter state. The plans will include measures to reduce the risk of moorland fires, which are an increasing risk in the face of climate change. They will also provide better habitat for wildlife, provide natural flood management benefits and improve drinking water quality.”

Learn more about how we are tackling the climate emergency.