What are we doing?
Current project actions include:
- Helping farmers with their Environmental Stewardship applications for higher
level schemes (HLS)
- Providing advice on farm environment plans (FEPs) and choosing HLS options,
especially those relating to wetland and farmland birds
- Providing specialist advice to farmers and Natural England advisors on the
creation and management of HLS wetland options, eg sluice and scrape construction,
rush management.
- Liaising with the Drainage Board, Environment Agency etc regarding consents for
water level management structures.
- Gathering ecological monitoring data for the project area, including surveys
for breeding and wintering birds, water vole and otter, ditch vegetation.
- Carrying out hydrological monitoring of water tables and ditch flow levels across
Cayton Carr.
- Facilitating communication between conservation agencies, landowners and archaeological
reseach groups
- Liaising with members of the public, local communities and interest groups, including
talks, publicity and promotion of the project.
The main objectives of the project are to:
- Restore a nationally important wetland landscape
- Increase the wildlife value of the area
- Help farm businesses move away from intensive farming systems towards sustainable
land management
- Improve the financial security of the farming community
- Help to achieve targets contained in the Scarborough Local Biodiversity Action Plan
(BAP) and in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
- Protect a fragile and internationally important archaeological resource
- Improve flood storage and water quality for the Derwent River catchment
- Improve the quality of life for local communities by creating a more attractive
and natural local environment
- Create a resource for tourism, recreation and educational purposes.