Call to make more space for nature
A new biodiversity project has launched in South Kesteven to help parish and town councils turn areas all shades of green through proactive rewilding.
South Kesteven District Council is looking to support rewilding initiatives to improve the green infrastructure and maintain new public open spaces.
The Make Space for Nature scheme will fund 100% of all project costs for successful bidders.
SKDC has asked parish councils and town councils to come forward with plans it can provide financial support to.
Cabinet member for Environment, Cllr Rhys Baker, said: “Altering our approach to the management of open spaces can provide better habitats for wildlife, improve biodiversity and increase amenity value. This work also supports pollinator populations and local wildlife, offering a genuine opportunity to encourage engagement with nature recovery.
“These projects need to be community-led and meet the needs of our towns and villages. This initiative is not an attempt to return every patch of green space back to nature, but to enhance forgotten corners identified by local people.
“We also emphasise balance. We realise that open spaces are excellent places for people to join together to instigate and grow a variety of grass, wildflower and tree species, and to use these areas as a focal point for community activities.
“Public spaces are important for dog walking, leisure, sport and other community activities. As such, our rewilding efforts are being carefully trialled to gauge public support and test practical impacts.”
The council already has its own areas of rewilding – at Tattershall Drive in Market Deeping, Rutland Heights in Stamford, and at Queen Elizabeth Park in Grantham – which have shown the way to successfully restore, protect and increase local biodiversity.
Make Space for Nature has been made possible through South Kesteven District Council following a successful bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for Green Space Improvement.
There are two deadlines for parish and town council applications: 28th October and 16th December.
They must show their ability to successfully implement measures that will benefit local wildlife and contribute to the sustainability, vitality and wellbeing of the communities of South Kesteven.
A helpful guide, the Rewilding Menu, has been produced to provide a comprehensive overview of what can be achieved. It includes guidance and indicative costings for a wide range of biodiversity and rewilding focused projects to suit all areas and landscapes.
Potential projects must fall within South Kesteven and land must be owned by the town or parish applying, or SKDC. Applications will be assessed following the closing dates.
Green habitats pledge as SKDC signs biodiversity agreement
An agreement has been signed by South Kesteven District Council and Boothby Wildland to provide developers with the option to buy habitat units to help them achieve their biodiversity net gain targets.
The Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) habitat bank will result in the natural restoration of 1,525 acres, which will feature diverse habitat types including scrubland, grassland, lowland meadow, woodland and ponds.
They will be created thanks to the signing of a s106 planning agreement with Boothby Wildland in Lincolnshire, operated by nature restoration company Nattergal.
This means that developers can purchase BNG credits where they can't achieve biodiversity net gain on site, with the proceeds invested in managing the nature reserve near Boothby Pagnell.
Boothby Wildland is former arable farmland in Lincolnshire, which has been gradually retreating from farming and preparing to let nature take the lead.
Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Rhys Baker, said: "This agreement is crucial to generate the funding required to support nature restoration at the Boothby site. This area will be transformed into vibrant habitats rich in biodiversity, benefiting local communities and ecosystems.
"The Environment Act demands that developers must deliver a BNG of 10% on new projects. They will need to show they have followed the Biodiversity Gain Hierarchy to take part in our initiative to protect natural habitats across South Kesteven.
"Working with Nattergal, we can now ensure that the benefits of BNG from new developments will remain in South Kesteven, as opposed to being used elsewhere - which is what may have happened without SKDC's forward-thinking action."
During the planning consent process, developers are first required to mitigate adverse biodiversity effects of their work by providing local green space or natural areas as part of their development site.
If they can't meet this requirement, environmental legislation requires the purchase of units off-site as part of planning permission. Boothby Wildland provides an opportunity for those biodiversity units and associated benefits to remain in South Kesteven.
For more information visit: www.nattergal.co.uk/boothby-wildland
Energy Efficiency Improvements at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre
South Kesteven District Council has recently secured government funding to install an energy-efficient, low-carbon heating system in the Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. As the largest leisure Centre in the district, the Meres has faced increasing financial pressure in recent years due to soaring energy costs.
The £3,587,500 fund, granted by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of the government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, will support the installation of an Air Source Heat Pump. In addition to £492,500 from the council's own budget, the planned energy improvements are set to replace the current inefficient gas boilers.
This move will support South Kesteven District Council's strategic ambition to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 30% by 2030, and to become net-zero carbon as soon as viable before 2050.
A separate grant of £445,725 from the government's Swimming Pool Support Fund will fund the installation of solar panels to support the new heating system and help maintain the ongoing sustainability of the Meres.
Trees and Woodland Strategy Approved by Cabinet
South Kesteven District Council's Trees and Woodlands Strategy will inform how the Council can protect and enhance the district’s tree population, with specific reference to tree preservation orders, development control and tree canopy cover increase through public and partnership engagement. In doing so, the Strategy will play a key role in the Council’s ambitions to increase biodiversity.
The Strategy was developed with the support of Treeconomics, who have worked with other local authorities, in recognition of the pivotal role trees and woodland play in cutting carbon emissions.
Lincolnshire has some of the lowest levels of tree cover in England, although this is expected given the agricultural land use in the County. The Strategy represents a significant opportunity to increase tree cover and help tackle the effects of climate change.
The public consultation on the Strategy closed in February 2024, with approximately 900 responses. 99% of these respondents agreed that trees and woodlands were valuable assets, and 96% agreed that planting, maintaining and protecting trees was a worthwhile investment. This demonstrated a clear desire from residents for the Council to develop a strategic approach to the management of its tree assets.
The Council will appoint a dedicated Tree Officer whose role will involve securing funding opportunities and engaging with local communities.
Funding to bring energy-efficiency upgrades to swimming pools
South Kesteven District Council, through its leisure company LeisureSK Ltd, is responsible for three leisure centres - in Grantham, Stamford and Bourne. The swimming pools at each are set to benefit from energy-saving measures following a boost in funding.
Following a successful bid to Sport England's Swimming Pool Support Fund – Phase II (Capital) award, Grantham Meres will receive £399,000 for solar panels with a further £46,725 for pool covers to keep the heat in and save energy on warming the water.
The investment helps meet a key priority of the South Kesteven Corporate Plan (2020-23), of building Healthy and Strong Communities, whereby the Council is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our residents by providing high quality leisure provision.
The Swimming Pool Support Fund was established by central Government in recognition of the significant challenges local authorities are facing nationally in continuing to operate public swimming facilities, especially in relation to the higher cost of utilities and pool chemicals. However, for those authorities Sport England chose to support, only one centre per local authority can benefit from the funding. To supplement this investment, SKDC will install pool covers at Bourne Leisure Centre and Stamford Leisure pool, funded from the Council's Climate Reserve.
SKDC received £344,659 from the Swimming Pool Support Fund Phase One back in November, the funding being utilised to offset the increased costs of utilities and pool chemicals for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre and Stamford Leisure Pool in financial year 2023/2024.
Witham/Slea Blue Green Corridor Project Shortlisted for National Award
South Kesteven District Council was the lead partner for the £1.2m Witham/Slea Blue Green Corridor initiative which was funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with financial contributions and partnership support from North Kesteven District Council, the Environment Agency and the National Trust. The resulting river restoration and biodiversity project taking in the Witham through Grantham was shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious UK River Prize 2024.
This Blue/Green project formed a crucial part of the overall, long-term, Upper Witham Restoration, a habitat improvement programme that has been ongoing for more than 10 years overseen by the Upper Witham sub-catchment partnership who submitted the area for the prestigious award.
Work in and around Grantham began in 2019 and ended last summer, supporting and developing areas alongside the River Witham and River Slea. It saw rivers linked with their floodplains, new habitats created, and existing habitats improved to support a more diverse range of species.
The 14 individual projects of the Upper Witham Restoration, including four in the Sleaford area, were designed to improve the freshwater habitat, support the ecosystem and benefit local communities.
Examples of work undertaken include tree planting and the introduction of bird boxes and wildflower meadows. Other work included:
• River channel improvements to restore straightened and over widened sections of the river to reinstate natural processes, improving habitat for people, places and wildlife
• Wetland creation, creating rare landscapes and supporting a wide variety of special native species, such as amphibians and water voles previously limited by the lack of habitat
• Wildflower meadow creation, establishing a wide range of flora, and creating habitat for many important species through refuge and food provision, as well as benefiting pollinators
• Flushing meadow creation, creating a spring-fed meadow to support diverse flora
• Tree management to support native species by introducing light and adding woody material for habitat creation
• Footpaths to bring essential transport links throughout the town, making enjoyable riverside walks more accessible
The work on the river was well received and set a good example of how river restoration projects can enhance public green spaces for the benefit of local users whilst also supporting wildlife.
The wider Upper Witham Restoration involved partnership work between the Environment Agency, East Mercia Rivers Trust, Wild Trout Trust, The National Trust, Grantham Angling Association Fly Fishing Section, South Kesteven District Council and the University of Lincoln.
The winner of the 2024 UK River Prize was announced at the UK River Prize Award Celebration on 24th April in Llandudno, North Wales.
More information: www.withamsleabluegreencorridor.co.uk
Coronation Community Orchards Funding
South Kesteven District Council has successfully applied to the Coronation Living Heritage fund to create up to 31 new orchards across the district.
The funding, with comes from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will be allocated via grants to communities across South Kesteven to plant a network of new mini-orchards.
More information will follow soon via a press release from the council.
Witham Slea Blue Green Corridor Project completion
The Witham/Slea project was a £1.2million biodiversity project the Council was able to deliver alongside partners North Kesteven District Council, the Environment Agency and the National Trust. The project ran from 2019 and ended in June of this year, and supported and developed the blue green corridors along the River Witham and River Slea; by reconnecting rivers with their floodplains, creating habitats that would naturally occur along the rivers and improving existing habitats in order to support a diverse range of species. This was achieved with 14 individual projects, designed to improve the freshwater habitat, ensure the entire ecosystem is more fully supported, and benefit the local communities.
The project covered 7.05 hectares of blue/green corridor along the River Witham and River Slea, improving 5.29 hectares of previously managed area in order to attain a better conservation status. The project also improved access for the 13,700 residents of Grantham and Sleaford, and supported the environmental and physical infrastructure for the 6000 houses envisaged in the towns. For more information on the individual projects, click here to view the Blue Green website.
Paper and card recycling scheme to be introduced across South Kesteven
South Kesteven District Council's Cabinet approved the initiative which will bring a separate recycling collection for clean and dry paper and card. Residents will receive a new purple-lidded recycling bin ahead of collections starting in 2024.
Energy efficiency upgrades scheme
South Kesteven District Council has allocated funds of more than £6 million for home energy efficiency upgrade improvements, combined with funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation fund.
Over 300 homes in the South Kesteven area are now able to benefit from this initiative, and letters have begun to be sent out to eligible properties to notify residents. These energy efficiency upgrades will result in lower energy bills and a warmer, more comfortable home at zero cost to residents.
To ensure the success of these upgrades, the Council has partnered with E.ON, who will be managing the scheme on the Council's behalf and who are experienced in enhancing energy efficiency in homes. To support their delivery, E.ON have selected a trusted contractor partner, Advanced ECO, who will carry out home assessments and final installations.
Benefits of the work
Upgrades available through this scheme could offer a range of benefits, including:
• Help to lower energy bills
• Improved energy efficiency
• Warmer winters and cooler summers
• Reduced noise for a quieter home
• Renewable energy source (if solar panels are suitable for your home)
• A fresh and modern appearance for your home
• Reduced condensation, mould and humidity.
Eligible homes can expect to receive a letter from the Council and E.ON over the coming weeks which will include more information regarding the scheme and next steps. If you are happy, we will then put you forward for improvement works. Each eligible home's improvement package will be selected after a free home assessment and then improvements will be installed at a date and time agreed with you.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 01476406080 or you can contact E.ON by calling 0333 202 4820 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday), and quoting: South Kesteven SHDF
To find out more about this scheme you can visit www.eonenergy.com/shdf
Tree Planting in Grantham
SKDC celebrated National Tree Week (2021) by planting a total of 50 native trees across the district November through December.
The trees, each at least five years old, were planted in Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.
The trees included a mix of species such as wild cherry, rowan, silver birch, hornbeam, medlar and whitebeam which have been selected for their benefits to biodiversity.