A TEAM from Yorkshire Water has joined forces with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to increase wet woodland habitat at Steeton Ings near Silsden.

Wet woodland habitat has suffered huge declines in recent decades, even though it is immensely important for a number of plants and animals, and in particular insects, many of which are rare today in the UK.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust embarked on the Upper Aire Floodplains project, funded by SITA Trust, last September, with the aim of increasing wet woodland in Otterburn, Silsden, Marley and Bingley.

The Yorkshire Water team first got involved at the beginning of the project, putting in fencing at Otterburn and, last week, the team helped to finish work at another site at Steeton Ings,

They erected more fencing work, this time along the riverbank to protect it from cattle.

Don Vine, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s conservation officer, said: “It was great to have the team from Yorkshire Water back out to help finish the fencing work at Steeton Ings. The team realise the importance of our work in improving the water quality of our streams and rivers, by reducing soil erosion.

“Wildlife will also benefit, as species who depend on wetland and woodland habitat take shelter and find food in these spots. Otters establish holts in which to breed, Natterer’s bats feed around the edges of the wet woodland on insects such as caddisflies and moths, whilst willow tits nest in old, rotted stumps; and these are just a few of the species to profit.”

Anne Reed, corporate responsibility, education and volunteering advisor for Yorkshire Water, said: “Taking care of the environment is something we are committed to as a company, so opportunities to help organisations like Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are really important to us.

"Their work to increase wet woodland habitat is vital for wildlife and the fencing work we were able to assist them with will also help to protect water quality, so it’s a perfect collaboration for the two of us.”

In total, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust hopes to restore and reintroduce new wet woodland habitat along a 20-mile stretch of the River Aire, creating valuable habitat for wildlife and helping to reduce the risk of flooding in towns and villages downstream.

For more information, visit ywt.org.uk/upper-aire-valley-floodplains or to find out more about the costs involved in setting up a corporate workday call 01904 659570.