NEW WETLAND BIRD SITE NEAR GRIMSBY SHORTLISTED FOR PLANNING AWARD

Cress Marsh - created to provide habitat for waders and wildfowl

A PROJECT aimed at enabling wildlife and industry to flourish  side-by-side  has been shortlisted for a national planning award.

The South Humber Gateway Mitigation Strategy has made the final six in the  natural environment category of awards for planning excellence. 

With an aim of encouraging overwintering wading birds and wildfowl displaced by industrial development, North East Lincolnshire Council planners and ecologists worked with Natural England, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and others to create Cress Marsh - an area of wet and grass land along the South Humber Bank, near Stallingborough.

The site is being monitored by members of Lincolnshire Bird Club who have been recording the species for the council which manages the site.

Cress Marsh consists of a large central lagoon, which feeds seven more water-filled ‘cells’ via pipework infrastructure. overlooking the lagoon is a bird hide.

Star species over the 12 months have included little ringed plover, green sandpiper and spoonbill, but so far it has not proved as effective as hoped in attracting large numbers of curlews, redshank, snipe, golden plover wigeon and teal.                                

Redshank - as yet, far from plentiful

However, it is still early doors, and there are hopes that numbers will pick up by the end of the year. 

In his entry submission to the planning competition, senior North East Lincolnshire Council planner Ian King describes the  project as a "shining example of what can be achieved when a true balance of economic social and environmental objectives is pursued".

Council regeneration head Cllr John Fenty says of Cress Marsh’s awards shortlisting: “This is proof indeed of the innovative approach our teams are taking to support businesses to either develop or expand here.

"In turn, we are recognising the need to  protect the natural environment."