Friends of Bradford’s Becks
Transcript of Friends of Bradford’s Becks
Friends of Bradford’s Becks Summary of FUTURE PROJECTS workshop on Friday 1st Feb 2019
MechanicsInstituteLibrary,Kirkgate,Bradford
Present:Elisabeth,Kevin,Graham,Rob,Carlton,DavidBailes,Nick,Colin,JonnyGrey,SimonW,EdN,Geoff,AndrewM,DavidP,RachelF,Robin,PhilMarken,JohnB,MikeP,Barney,JohnR,Matt,SydS
Apologies:SteveS-B,Eddie,Rose,Rachel,Irene,James,Wendy
Structure of meeting
• 10:00-10:30–FOBBtimeline(seesnapshotofslidesused)• 10:30,Breakoutgroups
o Whatarethepossibilitieso Define1-3projectso Howdowedothem
• 11:30ish,Plenarysessiono Eachgrouptoreportbacko Aplanemerges…
• 12:30Gohomeexhausted
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Breakout groups
Thefourgroupseachdiscussedanareaofpossibleactivitiesasshown.Lotsofflipchartpaperwascoveredinthediscussions,and
possibleprojectsputforwardtotheplenarysession.ThenotesandprojectideasaresummarisedintheAppendix.
Projects currently underway
1. Signposting the footpaths
WithfinancefromtheCo-op,weareerecting~20footpathsigns,mostlyinwesternpartofthecatchment,tohelppeoplefindtheBecks.GrahamGisleading,workingwiththeCouncilwhowillactuallydotheinstallations.
2. Renaturalising from the River Aire to Briggate
TheprojectwhichwehavebeenproposingforyearsisnowformallyunderwaytoimprovetheBeckanditsbanks,fundedbyEAandCBMDC,withthemainpracticalworktobecarriedoutbyWildTroutTrust.Itmaytakeseveralyears!
WearealsoinvolvedindiscussionsabouttheopportunitiesfortheBeckofthepossibleCanalRdimprovementscheme.
3. Yorkshire Water study of drainage issues
YWwillbecarryingoutan:
‘Investigation to understand the causes of ecological failures related to drainage across Bradford Beck catchment, working in partnership with local interest groups, the EA and the local authority as appropriate. Specifically the investigation should identify mis-connections, sources of pollution to surface water systems and non-compliance with discharge permit conditions. The investigation will need to improve understanding of how these issues affect macrophytes, invertebrates and fish, and develop a strategy for resolving the ecological issues. The extent of this investigation is the Bradford Beck and its tributaries to its confluence with the River Aire.’
ThisarisesfromFOBB’sevidenceofpollutionissuesintheBeck,andwewillbeinvolved.
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4. Miss Connection
MissConnection(https://vimeo.com/227630579)iscontinuingtovisitschoolstoexplainaboutthepollutionthatarisesfrommis-connecteddrainsandsewers.Shecanbecontactedviairenelofthousewriter@gmail.com.
5. Invasive species removal
AgroupledbyNickandKamranhasbeensurveyingandtreatingJapaneseKnotweedandwillpresumablycontinueactivitiesthisyear.
Possible future projects
Thefollowingpossibleprojectsareadistillationoftheworkshopoutcomes,withafewotherideasfromearlierdiscussionsthrownin.
Project Whatisit?Why? Whatisneeded? Finance?
Guidedwalks. Takemembersofthepublic(oranygroup)ononeofthepre-plannedwalksaroundandacrossthebeautifulcountrysideandbecksofBradford.
RaisesawarenessofthebecksandFOBB.
Acoordinatortoa)fixdatesandrecruitwalkleaders,b)spreadthewordtowalkingandothergroupsviaemailandsocialmedia.
None.
Litterpicking. Aseriesofmornings’litterpickinginthebecks(ifsafe)andonthebanks,followedbyahotdrinkandbiscuits.MarchandAprilarebestmonths,whenplantsarelow.
ImprovesthebecksandraisesawarenessofFOBB.
Acoordinatortoa)fixdates,b)tospreadthewordviaemailandsocialmedia,c)contactCouncilforbinbagsandtocollectwaste.
None.
StudentFOBB. FormaFOBBgroupinBradfordUniversityand/orBradfordCollege.Approachexistingenvironmentalgroupsand/orUnion.
Bringsmorevolunteers,raisesawarenessofwaterissues.
Aliaisonpersontomaketheinitialcontactsandkeepawatchingbriefinfuture.
None.
Informationboards. Createandinstallinformationboardsatselectedlocationswithsomehistory,ecologyandpollutionpreventionadvice!
RaisesawarenessofthebecksandFOBB.
Asmallgrouptoresearchtopics,decideoncontent,findandworkwithadesignertocreateboards.
Wehave£3500fromCo-opthatneedsspendingthisyear!
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Project Whatisit?Why? Whatisneeded? Finance?
SedimentcontrolonNewBuilds.
Workwithlocalconstruction/developmentcompanies(andEAandCouncil)toeducateonbestpracticetopreventsiltenteringtheBecksanddamagingwildlife.Likelytodevelopintoatrainingprogrammeandpreparationofaguidancedocument.
Improvesthebecks.
Aprojectleadertomakeinitialcontact,testthewillingnessofcompaniestoengage,andputtogetheraprojectplantobidforfunding.
Quitealargeproject,maybe20companiestoengagewithovertime.
Probablyneedsfundingforaprojectofficertosetupanddelivervisitsandtraining.
Riparianguardians. Riparianlandownersarethosewhoownthebanks,theyalsoownthebeduptothebeckcentreline.Workwiththemtodevelopaninteresta)inmonitoringthewaterqualityandreportingissues,b)preventingpollutionandlitterfromtheirownsites,c)reducingrunoff.AwardFOBBcertificates.
Improvesthebecks,bringsmorevolunteers,raisesawarenessofwaterissues.
Aprojectleadertomakeinitialcontact,testthewillingnessofcompaniestoengage.Createasmallgroupofvolunteerstovisitripariansitesandadvise.
Canprobablybedonewithvolunteers.
CouldberolledupwithSedimentControlsproject,ordonewithvolunteers.Smallfundingforleaflets,signs.
Existingwetlands. RevamptheexistingwetlandsatPittyBeckandChellowDenetobemoreecologicallyfunctionalandtohavesomefloodmanagementbenefits.CreatealocalFriendsgroupforeach.Seeiftheycanbeusedforeducationwithlocalschools.
Improvesthebecks,raisesawarenessofFOBBandwaterissues,increasesvolunteerpool.
Aprojectleadertodiscussthepossibilitieswithexperts(FOBB,EA,WildTroutTrust,Council)andinterestedpartiessuchaslocalresidents,Councilandschools.
Developaplan.
Noneforinitialplanning.Mayrequirefundstocarryout.
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Project Whatisit?Why? Whatisneeded? Finance?
NaturalFloodManagementforPittyBeck.
DevelopaplanforNFMinthePittyBeckcatchment,toreducefloodingriskdownstreamandimprovewaterquality.Mayinvolve:treeplanting,fencingoffhorsepaddocksfrombeck,slowingrunoffwithlittledams,rainplantersandsoakawaysforhouses.
ReducesfloodriskinBradfordandLeeds,improvesthebecks,raisesawarenessofFOBBandwaterissues,maybringinvolunteers.
Aprojectleadertodiscussthepossibilitieswithexperts(ART,EA,LeedsFloodAlleviationScheme,Council)andinterestedpartiessuchaslocalresidentsandlandowners(Councilownsalot).
Developaplan.
Noneforinitialplanning.Willrequirefundstocarryout.
Plastics. Aneducationalcampaigntopreventwetwipesandothersanitarymaterialsgettingintothebecks.Focusonstoppingpeopleflushingstuffdowntoilet.(Couldalsodealwithmis-connectionsandproblemsoffatsandoildisposal.)CarryoutincooperationwithYorkshireWaterwhichhasacampaignunderway(Wipesaur).
Reducesplasticpollutionbyreducingsewerblockagesandspillagesintobecks,raisesawarenessofFOBBandplasticpollution.
AprojectleadertoliaisewithYWanddevelopaplan.
Noneforinitialplanning.Willrequirefundstocarryout–perhapsYWwillsupport.
Pollutionmonitoring. ACitizenScienceapproachtofindingmisconnectionsandirregularCSOdischarges.Designing,making,installingandtestinganewlow-costsensorwhichalertsvolunteerstocheckthebecksforpollution.
Reducespollution,improvesthebecks,raisesawarenessofFOBB.
AprojectleadertoliaisewithYWanddevelopaplan–currentlyunderway.
ExpectingYWfunds.
APPENDIX: Summary of notes from discussion groups
Pollution - notes
Education:
• aboutCSOs,Plastics(wipes),Misconnections
• Forschools,authorities,riparianownersandpublic
Monitoring:
• Technologicalmethods(widget)
• Observation(bypeople)
Plastics:
• Wetwipesandothersanitarywaste–YWS
• Generallitter
Riparianowners:
• Cangiveaccesstothebeck-side
• Co-operationwouldbeuseful
• Canbepollution/littersources
• Couldbeobservers
Pollution – possible new projects
1. Education:- Newbuilds(ieconstructioncompanies)- Schools- (riparianowners)- UsingMissConnection,YWSleaflets
2. Monitoring:- Technologydevelopment- Engagelocals- Regularmonitoringandobservations- Riparianownersandcontacts- YWSsondestogoin
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Awareness raising – notes
Whoshouldbeaware?
• Professionalcontacts(EA,CBNDC,YWS,etc)?Project-driven?Massmarketing?
• Realchangescomethroughprofessionalcontacts• ExistenceandprofileofFOBBgivesthegroupinfluence,soneedmembers
• Activitiesraisemembers/volunteers
Awarenessofwhat?
• Becks?FOBB?Water?
• JointlyofBecksandFOBB
Scaleofeducationtomakeanimpact:
• Forconstructioncompanies,maybe20companies.NeedtogetinatRegionalDirectorlevel(orhigher),theneventsforsitemanagersandsubcontractors.
• Fordomesticinfluenceinsay10locations,mightneed10eventsperlocationswith10-50peopleineach,so100events.
• Allarelargeundertakings.
Awareness raising – possible new projects
3. StudentbranchofFOBB:- Tryandcreateastudentgroup,Universityand/orCollege,whichmaybeself-
sustaining- Seeifexistingenvironmentalgroups- ContactStudentUnion- HavestallatFreshersFairs
4. Constructionindustryeducation:- Aimtoreducesedimentrunoff- Demonstrategoodpractice- Writetocompaniesdirect- Workthroughindustryassociationssuchas“ConsiderateConstruction”
5. Targetwalkinggroupswithoffersofguidedwalks
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- Needsacoordinatortosetupdatesandleaders- Alsoa‘marketing’persontospreadtheword- LinkinwithDNAire- AroutetoBMEengagement?
Smaller improvements – notes
Areasdiscussed:
• Invasivespeciesremoval(knotweedetc)• Reviewingplanningapplications
• Buildingfieldbunds
• Mappingpotentialdaylightingopportunities
• Cataloguinglandowners• Litterpicking
• Walksandfootpathimprovements
• Treeplanting
• Sustainableurbandrainage,egrainwaterplantersforhouses
Smaller improvements – possible new projects
6. Walksandfootpathimprovementstofollowonfromthesignpostingproject
7. Litterpicking:- ChellowDene- CanalRd- ShayLane- InvolveKBT,SAS,FoE,Woodcraft,Scouts
8. Treeplanting- Tridenthasvolunteers- LinktoBetterPlaceproject,egBowlingBeck
Renaturalisation – notes
ForNFM,topographysaysweshouldstartattopofcatchment
Landownership–doweknowiffragmentedorcoherent?Islandfarmerordeveloperowned?
Reservoirscanbeusedadaptively
LeedsFloodAlleviationScheme(FAS)isagoodlink
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ExistingNFMopportunitiesmapandfloodriskmapsareuseful
Aimforademoproject
Renaturalisation – possible new projects
9. PittyBeck- Revampexistingwetland
o Useasbasisforeducationandengagement?- DevelopanNFMschemeforcatchment
o Lotsofhorsedominatedpasturesalongbecko Treeplantingo AlotofCBMDCownedland
10. ChellowDene- Considerrevampofexistingwetland
o Whatcouldbeitsfunction?
11. CanalRoad- Continuetoengage- Stayalerttoplansforroadimprovementswhichmayhavesignificantfundingand
consequencesfortheBeck
12. Clayton/PittyBeckconfluence:- Keepwatchingbrief- Developermaycomebackwithnewproposal- OpportunityforNFMandimprovedbiodiversity