Staff from the National Trust and Yorkshire Water recently invited Councillor Scott Patient (Calderdale Council’s Deputy Leader and member of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Climate, Energy and Environment Committee) for a tour of the latest conservation works around Baitings and Ryburn Reservoirs.
The tour highlighted the installation of leaky dams, a form of natural flood management to slow the movement of rainwater during heavy rainfall, alleviating the risk of flooding in lower areas. This year, the project has seen the installation of 71 leaky dams around the Baitings area.
The project’s leaky dams have benefitted from £1.9 million worth of funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The group also visited Ryburn Reservoir to observe the tree planting efforts that have taken place so far in a bid to tackle climate change.
Since the start of the project, just over 31,500 trees have been planted in this area, with a total of 300,000 trees planned in the South Pennines as part of the five-year project plan.
Councillor Scott Patient, Deputy Leader of Calderdale Council and member of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, said:
“It’s fantastic to see the progress being made around Baitings and Ryburn reservoirs as part of our Landscapes for Water programme, and how this links in with the wider programme of natural flood management activity being delivered across Calderdale.
“Initiatives like tree planting and leaky dams are vital in our efforts to tackle the climate emergency, protect homes and businesses, and create a greener, more vibrant West Yorkshire for future generations.”
Landscapes for Water is a joint programme between the National Trust and Yorkshire Water, focused on restoring landscapes across their landholdings in the South Pennines, specifically in the Upper Calder and Colne catchments.
Kate Divey-Matthews, National Trust Project Manager for Landscapes for Water, said:
“It was great to show Councillor Scott Patient the recently installed leaky dams and native broadleaf tree planting around Baitings and Ryburn reservoirs.
“These interventions support Scott’s work on climate action and local flood resilience.”
Hazel Earnshaw, lead Countryside and Woodland Advisor for Yorkshire Water, said:
“We’ve been making brilliant progress at Baitings and Ryburn, and with the wider Landscapes for Water partnership, and it was fantastic to be able to discuss the work and its benefits for the local area with Councillor Scott Patient.”
Landscapes for Water is supported by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the White Rose Forest (through ‘Trees For Climate’, funded by Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund), Woodland Trust, Environment Agency, Calderdale Council, Forestry Commission, Natural England, and Kirklees Council.
