We are now halfway through the FLOW Project and this is a short summary of what we have achieved since October 2016, the start of the Delivery phase.
FLOW – Fixing and Linking Our Wetlands
Read the pdf version of this e-bulletin
This Heritage Lottery Funded Project is focused on assessing the many ditches and waterways on the Manhood Peninsula to see how this network of wetland habitat is linked, identify areas of improvement for drainage and habitat improvement, and to highlight the benefits of well-managed ditches for people and wildlife.
During our physical improvement and habitat and species survey work we have always provided refreshments for volunteers and during 255 of these sessions approximately 450 cakes were consumed!!
Physical Improvement Work
 Overgrown Before |
 After |
Number of work sites where physical work has taken place: 42
Number of habitat improvement work sessions: 91
Area improved: 27500m²
 Overgrown Before |
 After |
We have worked with 24 landowners to deliver drainage and habitat improvements
163 km of ditches (820 ditches) walked across 4 parishes
30 kilometres of hedgerows surveyed
Grants
Money gained in extra grants: £26,326
Money gained via applications for other flood groups: £23,687
Money gained in non-cash contributions: £12,358.95
Species Recording
Number of species / habitat surveying sessions 147
Mink monitoring visits 203
2403 Species records submitted through iRecord to the Biodiversity Records Centre
24 Community events attended
20 Presentations to different audiences
17 Volunteer training sessions held
Thank you to all our volunteers who have participated in the FLOW project and pushed it forward through a variety of tasks: walking ditches; helping with physical improvement work; getting involved in species and habitat surveying; learning to create maps through GIS and generally offering enthusiasm, energy and good cheer at all times.
Read more about this project and see how you can get involved, too.
