COVENTRY’S River Sherbourne is set to be restored and revitalised through a £3million project.
Following the two-year development phase of the Sherbourne Valley project, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has been awarded £1.8million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The cash was secured after match-funding was found from several streams, including Coventry City Council, Severn Trent, the Environment Agency and Sherbourne Valley Churches.
The £3million will be invested in a variety of aspects on the site over the next four years.
The Trust is also working in partnership with, and being supported by, Citizen Housing, Historic Coventry Trust and Coventry University in order to bring the ambitious plans to life.
This project will restore and revitalise the River Sherbourne, which runs through the heart of Coventry and will enable people to enjoy and celebrate all aspects of the river’s heritage.
In medieval times, the river provided food and water to the people of Coventry.
During the Blitz, sluice gates were installed which allowed firefighters to access the water to use against the Luftwaffe.
The project will reawaken the river, create new wetlands and change people’s relationships with it.
The Sherbourne Valley Project has six key aims, including connecting the people of Coventry more to the River Sherbourne and its surrounding green spaces, ensuring the area has habitats for wildlife and to make it more accessible along its length.
The built heritage will also be preserved and celebrated and funding will also help empower the local community to take ownership of the river.
And information and learning opportunities will also be made available.
Caz Bailey, Sherbourne Valley project manager thanked the National Lottery and its players for ‘helping to rewrite the future of
Coventry’s River Sherbourne by establishing an urban living landscape in which people, nature and culture can thrive.
“We will make the Sherbourne Valley a shining example of what it looks like to have more space for nature with more people on nature’s side.
“We can’t wait to get started.”
The project will show how the trust is implementing its new #TeamWilder scheme to inspire citizens to take meaningful action to help with nature’s recovery.
The scheme will cover 60sq km and focus on the river, its tributaries, green spaces along the length and wider catchment area.
Key activity sites include Coundon Wedge, Lakeview Park and Charterhouse Heritage Park.
The funding and the project will allow Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to engage with, and benefit, more than 25,000 people via one off activities during the project’s delivery.
The Trust will expand its existing team to include seven members of staff, two trainees per year and plenty of volunteers.
The Trust expects to work with 3,500 people in a more structured, regular way through volunteering opportunities, training, walks and other sessions.
Visit sherbournevalley.co.uk or facebook.com/TheSherbourneValleyProject or email [email protected] for more.
Further details on specific events and activities will be released shortly.
