Supporting our first Get River Positive Community Fund projects
While we don’t own our region's rivers, we recognise that we have an important role to play in improving river health.
And central to our third Get River Positive pledge ‘To support others to improve and care for rivers’ is our commitment to use our brilliant Community Fund to support community groups and charities that are as passionate as us about improving our region’s rivers.
Since launching our Get River Positive focus for the Community Fund earlier this year, we’ve already awarded a total of £244,093 of grants to two brilliant projects that are set to have a positive impact on our region’s rivers.
Read on to find out more about these brilliant projects…
Spa Ponds to flourish in Mansfield
The Forest Town Nature Conservation Group in Mansfield was awarded £45,000 last month to support its project to improve water quality and biodiversity at Spa Ponds Nature Reserve in the town.
The project will also see volunteers monitor biodiversity in and around the ponds and river - recording evidence of water quality improvements.
"By improving water quality in the ponds we’re protecting and enhancing water quality in the River Maun. The funding from Severn Trent’s Community Fund has allowed us to make a dream come true – we've long wanted to improve visitor experience and biodiversity and this money will enable us to do that."
Hydropower returns to Matlock
And in August, The Arkwright Society in Matlock successfully applied for a £199,093 grant towards a project that that will see hydropower return to the site of the world’s first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill at Cromford Mills in Matlock.
Water source heat pumps will also be installed to provide heating to the site as part of the project.
"While we don’t own our region's rivers, we have an important role to play in improving river health, and we’re really keen to hear about unique projects that are committed to making rivers better places for both local wildlife and communities. We hope that the fund will create some fantastic opportunities for projects right across the region to join us in leading positive change for our region’s rivers."
"We’ve already supported brilliant projects in both Mansfield and Matlock this year which will both have a positive impact on the local environment and we’d love to hear about more projects across our region that would benefit from a little help."
If you know of a great project that would help look after our rivers, like the ones at Spa Ponds Nature Reserve and Cromford Mills, please get in touch with the Community Fund team at communityfund@severntrent.co.uk, or find out more here: stwater.co.uk/communityfund