1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Wakefield
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Wild Went Water Voles project
Short description of the intervention
“The Went Water Vole Project, a two year project working with local people and landowners throughout the River Went catchment to secure the future survival for one of the most significant water vole populations in West Yorkshire. Work also involves carry out habitat restoration and creation schemes across the area to link up isolated water vole colonies and encourage the re-population of some of their old ranges.” (Ref. 1)
Address

Wakefield
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
River Went Catchment Area (Ref 1)
Website of the intervention
http://www.ywt.org.uk/what-we-do/projects/wild-went-water-voles-project
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2010
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2010
End date of the intervention
2012
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The Went Water Vole Project (2 year project) was officially launched in April 2010. (Ref. 1)
Goals of the intervention
“The project aims to secure and expand the population of water voles through improved management of water courses and the restoration of habitats. Engagement with land owners and opportunities for community involvement and training form a significant part of this project.” (Ref. 2)

Also, “the work we carry out for water vole conservation will also benefit other wildlife, from amphibians like newts and frogs to insects and farmland birds. The project has wider benefits too... for example installing new way marking on sites across Featherstone to coincide with the publication of a new walks leaflet, as well as spreading the word about rivers and wetlands to as many local school children as possible”. (Ref. 1)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Means for conservation governance
Raise public awareness
Public engagement
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Capacity building
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Restore endangered species
Restore ecological connectivity
Public engagement
Implementation activities
“The project aims to secure and expand the population of water voles through improved management of water courses and the restoration of habitats. Engagement with land owners and opportunities for community involvement and training form a significant part of this project.” (Ref. 2)

Also, “the work we carry out for water vole conservation will also benefit other wildlife, from amphibians like newts and frogs to insects and farmland birds. The project has wider benefits too... for example installing new way marking on sites across Featherstone to coincide with the publication of a new walks leaflet, as well as spreading the word about rivers and wetlands to as many local school children as possible”. (Ref. 1)
Type of NBS project
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Young people and children
Other
Please specify "other primary beneficiary"
water vole populations in West Yorkshire; amphibians like newts and frogs and insects and farmland birds (Ref 1)
Please specify other local relevant strategy
UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) where water voles are an endangered species: "National Status: Water Voles are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (from the local Biodiversity Action Plan). (Ref. 3)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The Wild Went Water Vole project is run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. (Ref. 1, 2) Funding to the project was provided from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Environment Agency. (Ref. 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Taskforce groups
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
"National Status: Water Voles are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (from the local Biodiversity Action Plan). (Ref. 3)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Wakefield’s local Biodiversity Action Plan. (Ref. 3)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Wakefield Council’s Green Infrastructure Plan (which refers to the project). (Ref. 2)
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Other
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
River Ranger (Volunteers). (Ref. 1)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Went Water Vole Project, a two year project funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund. In addition to this the project uses funding secured from the Environment Agency. [Although the amount of funding is unknown]. (Ref. 1)
The Wildlife Trust itself works with the local community and offers e.g. water vole survey training. (Ref. 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
55000 EUR (Ref 5)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
£50,000 for Wild Went Water Voles Project from the Heritage lottery Fund helped the future of water vole populations in parts of the Wakefield. (Ref 5)
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Please specify other type of fund used
Heritage Lottery Fund (Ref 5)
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Other
Please specify other type of non-financial contribution
The Wildlife Trust itself works with the local community and offers e.g. water vole survey training. (Ref. 1)
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Private sector (businesses, financial institution)
Business models
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Cultural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Work includes to "carry out habitat restoration and creation schemes across the area to link up isolated water vole colonies and encourage the re-population of some of their old ranges". (Ref. 1)
Please specify social innovation
Educational: water vole survey training and survey raft building workshops. (Ref. 1) environmental education: spreading the word about rivers and wetlands to as many local school children as possible”. (Ref. 1)installing new way marking on sites across Featherstone to coincide with the publication of a new walks leaflet (Ref 1) Engagement with land owners and opportunities for community involvement and training form a significant part of this project.” (Ref. 2)
Novelty level of the innovation
Ambiguous (e.g. multiple interpretations)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust ran a number of water vole conservation projects in the past. (Ref. 4)
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is transferred to new initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The 'Living Went Project' which "builds on work started by the Wild Went Water Voles project". (Ref. 4)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Water management and blue areas
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Increased protection of threatened species
Please specify other economic impact
training: The Wildlife Trust itself works with the local community and offers e.g. water vole survey training. (Ref. 1)
Description of environmental benefits
“The project aims to secure and expand the population of water voles through improved management of water courses and the restoration of habitats. Engagement with land owners and opportunities for community involvement and training form a significant part of this project.” (Ref. 2)

The project worked with landowners to improve the management of the water courses, benefiting a range a wildlife and reducing pollution. (Ref 5)

Also, “the work we carry out for water vole conservation will also benefit other wildlife, from amphibians like newts and frogs to insects and farmland birds. The project has wider benefits too... for example installing new way marking on sites across Featherstone to coincide with the publication of a new walks leaflet, as well as spreading the word about rivers and wetlands to as many local school children as possible”. (Ref. 1)
Economic impacts
Other
Description of economic benefits
training: The Wildlife Trust itself works with the local community and offers e.g. water vole survey training. (Ref. 1)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Please specify other environmental justice issue
water vole conservation will also benefit other wildlife, from amphibians like newts and frogs to insects and farmland birds. (Ref 1)
Description of social and cultural benefits
The project worked with landowners to improve the management of the water courses, benefiting a range a wildlife and reducing pollution. Through training and support, local people helped by with surveys and habitat restoration for water voles. There was also a series of public events to help inform and celebrate the amazing local wildlife. (Ref 5)

Education: water vole survey training and survey raft building workshops. (Ref. 1) environmental education: spreading the word about rivers and wetlands to as many local school children as possible”. (Ref. 1)installing new way marking on sites across Featherstone to coincide with the publication of a new walks leaflet (Ref 1) Engagement with land owners and opportunities for community involvement and training form a significant part of this project.” (Ref. 2)

The project offered: opportunity for local people to get involved [i.e. civic engagement; community based activities] in the conservation of a very special and vulnerable species (through e.g. joining in on guided walks, carrying out surveys, practical work such as pond clean ups etc.). (Ref. 1)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
"The Wild Went Water Voles project carried out survey work and some habitat restoration work". (Ref. 4)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
other
Voluntary work opportunities
Work for rehabilitation (e.g. for mental health, prisoners, older people)
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Other
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
"The Wild Went Water Voles project carried out survey work and some habitat restoration work". (Ref. 4)
surveying: “The West Yorkshire Water Vole Assessment 2010 (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) shows that Wakefield district contains one Regional Core area (the Upper Went catchment), two Local/District Key Areas (Barnsley Canal and Walton Nature Park) and a Potential Local Key Area (Gilcar -Whitwood area). There are scattered local populations across the district; it is probable that other populations will be discovered as surveying continues.” (Ref. 3)
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of 29 September 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Other
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
“The West Yorkshire Water Vole Assessment 2010 (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) shows that Wakefield district contains one Regional Core area (the Upper Went catchment), two Local/District Key Areas (Barnsley Canal and Walton Nature Park) and a Potential Local Key Area (Gilcar -Whitwood area). There are scattered local populations across the district; it is probable that other populations will be discovered as surveying continues.” (Ref. 3)
Link to the output of assessments
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/sports-leisure/parks-countryside/biodiver…
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
"Engagement with land owners and opportunities for community involvement and training form a significant part of this project." (Ref. 2)
Volunteers are involved through e.g. practical habitat work and survey training. (Ref. 1)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1
Ref. 2
Ref. 3
Ref. 4
List of references
Ref. 1. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (n.d.) Looking Back: Wild Went Water Voles Project. West Yorkshire. Information obtained: 2017-07-12. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 2. Wakefield Council (2010) Wakefield Green Infrastructure Plan. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/planning/planning-policy/information-monitoring/green-infrastrcture-plan-october-2010.pdf [Accessed 29 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Wakefield Council (n.d.) Wakefield Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Wakefield District Biodiversity Group. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/sports-leisure/parks-countryside/biodiversity-action-plan.pdf [Accessed 29 September 2020]
Ref. 4. The Wildlife Trusts (n.d.) The Wildlife Trusts’ water vole projects. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Information obtained: 2017-07-12. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 5. Yokshire Wildlife Trust (n.d.) Heritage Lottery Fund. Source: https://www.ywt.org.uk/support-us/corporate-support/corporate-partners/heritage-lottery-fund [Accessed 29 September 2020]
Comments and notes
Comments
2020 comments:
Additional notes: The West Yorkshire Water Vole Assessment 2010 (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) could not be identified online.
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/good_water_vole_habitat_web_ref_1.jpg
Public Images
Good water vole habitat web (Ref. 1)
Good water vole habitat web (Ref. 1)
Good water vole habitat web (Ref. 1)