Team Blitz India
LONDON: A new history and wildlife trail across Hull’s Beverley and Barmston Drain sees wildlife ‘guides’ Wendy the Water Vole (a semi-aquatic rodent often called the water rat), and Percy the Perch (a freshwater fish) help reconnect people to their natural environment.
The pilot project – along nine bridges across the drain – gives historical information and helps the community spot wildlife native to the location, shared a statement from UK’s Environment Agency.
It includes advice on how to go ‘pond dipping’ in the new Clough Road ‘pocket park’ – to encourage children and families to connect with the Drain and what lives beneath its surface.
The trail brings to life the work of ‘Hull’s Dynamic Drains’, a partnership project with Groundwork Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hull City Council that aims to improve the urban watercourse, boost wildlife habitats and encourage people to connect with and spend more time in their natural environment, as well as reducing littering and fly-tipping into Hull’s watercourses.
Beverley and Barmston Drain runs for 4km through the city, including residential areas, retail and industrial areas. When the project started in 2020 the drain needed significant Environment Agency maintenance due to litter and fly tipping which causes blockages and increases flood risk in the city.
There are signs that this is getting better, though still remains a challenge, the Environment Agency noted.
A new history and wildlife trail across Hull’s Beverley and Barmston Drain sees wildlife ‘guides’ Wendy the Water Vole (a semi-aquatic rodent often called the water rat), and Percy the Perch (a freshwater fish) help reconnect people to their natural environment.
The trail brings to life the work of ‘Hull’s Dynamic Drains’, a partnership project with Groundwork Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hull City Council that aims to improve urban watercourse, boost wildlife habitats and encourage people to their natural environment.
