Habitat creation receives funding boost at WWT Washington
WWT Washington Wetland Centre’s mission to bring local people together with inspirational wetlands and wildlife has received a welcome funding boost.
The Yorkshire Bank Spirit of the Community Awards announced the £5,000 donation at a ceremony in Leeds this week; where a total of 12 charities and not-for-profit organisations were recognised for going the extra mile and playing an important role in their local communities.
The money will be used to support WWT Washington as it restores 5.75 hectares of lowland meadow on its nature reserve. This will help encourage wildlife, allow reserve volunteers to practice new skills and benefit the surrounding community, which can enjoy and learn about the important habitat.
Gill Pipes, centre manager at WWT Washington, said: “WWT Washington Wetland Centre is delighted to have been chosen to receive this award from Yorkshire Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards 2014.”
John Gowland, reserve manager at the centre, added: “The award will fund part of our ‘Making Meadows’ project, which is a key part of our reserve management plan.
“It will allow us to create, manage and monitor meadow habitat for a variety of important flora and fauna, including breeding birds such as lapwing and redshank which nest on the edges of meadows.
“The meadows are also home to a wealth of invertebrates such as butterflies, bees and beetles and most are accessible to visitors, which allows us to bring people closer to nature, something which WWT is passionate about.”
Now in their second year, the awards were open to a range of organisations across the third sector, which could demonstrate their support for the local community. Groups were invited to enter the awards scheme under one of three categories; education, employability and environment.
Twelve community groups across England were selected to share funding of £75,000 to make a real difference in their local areas, including WWT Washington – one of nine wetland centres run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity which works to save wetlands and their wildlife and raise awareness of the issues that affect their survival.
An overall winning group has been selected in each category securing £10,000 of funding, along with three highly commended winners that were each awarded £5,000.
John Hooper, Chief Operating Officer at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: “Yorkshire Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards recognise and support the important role that voluntary and charitable organisations play in their local communities.
“It has been inspiring to see the great work that is being done at grass roots level across the country.
“WWT Washington is an extremely deserving winner and has been recognised for its community spirit with this award from Yorkshire Bank.”
Yorkshire Bank’s sister organisation, Clydesdale Bank, has also announced 12 successful recipients of £75,000 as part of the Spirit of the Community Awards initiative. This brings the total funds awarded to 24 community groups up and down the country to £150,000.
For further information about Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Foundation’s Spirit of the Community Awards, please visit www.ybonline.co.uk/foundation
