Help to create a sustainable future for the Skell Valley
Project overview
The scheme focusses on the 12 miles of the River Skell, as seen in the map. The Valley and its unique cultural and natural heritage are under threat from a number of forces which is why it is so important to run the scheme.
Why is the scheme so important?
- Extreme flooding, due to climate change, has caused irreparable damage to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The flooding has resulted in silt deposition into the river which is threatening ecology.
- Protecting heritage: Due to neglect, there is a significant risk of loss of heritage along the Skell Valley.
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Conserving nature: sedimentation in the river causes poor water quality, threatening wildlife. There is an increase in invasive species such as Himalayan balsam and signal crayfish.
This is an interactive map.
Get involved
EVENT: Q and A at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
Find out about what is happening during the course of the project, and the roadmap for the next 6 months. Ask a member of the Council any questions you might have about the project and offer suggestions on how any of the issues that Skell Valley is facing can be addressed.
See what's happened so far
Stage one: engagement
In 2019 the National Lottery Heritage Fund provided stage one funding to help develop the plan for the project. Over 1,000 farmers, landowners and communities were all consulted to make sure that the scheme reflected the views and needs of a wide range of people living and working in the Skell Valley.
Stage two: funding
From this, the stage two application was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a further grant of £1.4 million in autumn 2020.
In December 2020 confirmation was given that the stage two bid was successful.
Stage three: delivery
The delivery phase of the project started in April 2021 with a core team of four staff working alongside partners from HADCA, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and West Yorks Archives to deliver the Skell Valley landscape conservation action plan. This phase will run to 2024, and will cost approximately £2.5 million.