Working together for nature (From Gazette Series)

Working together for nature

A NEW partnership has been launched that will pool the expertise of three organisations to help 12 parishes in the Severn Vale create a thriving natural environment.

Severn Vale Biodiversity Project brings together community, farming and environmental experience and builds on the model of good practise that has been developed in Cam during the past seven years.

Funded by English Nature through DEFRA and bringing together Stroud Valleys Project, the Severnside Project and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, the long-term aim of the project is the creation of a network of wildlife-rich parishes.

The project will try to look after and protect biodiversity for now and the future, attract more wildlife to the area, develop jobs and business opportunities through caring for the natural environment and use the natural environment to ensure an attractive environment for residents to live in is kept.

Caroline Aistrop, director of projects at Stroud Valleys Project, said: "There is huge enthusiasm within parishes about caring for their wildlife and countryside and a lot is already being done.

"Our partnership wants to help parishes with tackling these issues and to make the most of new governmental opportunities that will enable parishes to have a greater say about their futures."

Arlingham, Cam, Coaley, Frampton-on-Severn, Fretherne-with-Saul and Slimbridge are among parishes included in the project.