SCHOOLCHILDREN SHOW SPADES OF ENTHUSIASM FOR ENVIRONMENT
SCHOOLCHILDREN SHOW SPADES OF ENTHUSIASM FOR ENVIRONMENT
We’ve been working with community groups and schoolchildren to landscape the banks of the Bede Burn following work to reduce the risk of flooding by the Environment Agency and South Tyneside Council.
Focusing on species that thrive in wet areas such as yellow flag iris, yellow loosestrife and flowering rush to prevent bank erosion, we’ve created a green space for local residents to enjoy while providing
new habitats for wildlife.
The whole project focused on using environmentally friendly ways to tackle surface water flooding, which happens when rainwater does not drain away or soak into the ground, but lies on or flows over the ground instead. To do this, the Environment Agency and South Tyneside Council opened up a section of the Bede Burn, a process known as ‘daylighting’ as well as creating a water storage basin to store run-off water during storms.
Liz Walters, Project manager at Tyne Rivers Trust says: “We’ve been working with schoolchildren and community groups to create an attractive area for people to enjoy. It’s great to get local people involved in the project and they’ve done a fantastic job in creating what will become a green space for everyone to use.”
Project Manager Tom Pitman, who is delivering the scheme for the Environment Agency and South Tyneside Council, said: “Creating new valuable habitat and a facility the community can enjoy is a key part of Monkton flood scheme to ensure it not only reduces the risk of surface water flooding, but it is also something the community can get involved in and be proud of.