Future-Proofing the Severn Estuary: SEP Secures Nearly £1 Million to Support Long-Term Conservation

Future-Proofing the Severn Estuary: SEP Secures Nearly £1 Million to Support Long-Term Conservation

The Severn Estuary Partnership (SEP) is delighted to announce the award of £992,285 in funding from the Nature Networks Fund to support the new “Future Proofing the Severn Estuary” project. This significant investment will enhance the protection and resilience of the Severn Estuary’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), recognised internationally for their unique habitats and biodiversity.

The Nature Networks Fund is delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales. It aims to support nature recovery and improve the condition and connectivity of protected sites across Wales. SEP’s project builds on three decades of collaborative work across the estuary, and this new initiative will play a vital role in delivering SEP’s vision for a sustainable, thriving Severn Estuary.

Strengthening Biodiversity, Engaging Communities

This funding will enable a wide range of initiatives focused on improving estuary-wide resilience and community engagement. Key actions include:

• Updating the State of the Severn Estuary Report to provide robust, up-to-date data for environmental monitoring and decision-making.
• Supporting the Bird Aware Severn programme, helping to reduce disturbance to sensitive bird populations.
• Managing invasive non-native species and supporting efforts to improve water quality.
• Empowering citizen scientists to help monitor and protect the estuary’s rich biodiversity.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to build on our long-standing work and take concrete steps toward securing the long-term health of the Severn Estuary,” said Alys Morris, SEP Manager. “We look forward to working with our partners and communities to deliver meaningful and lasting change.”

The Severn Estuary spans both England and Wales and is one of the UK’s largest estuaries, home to a vast range of wildlife, landscapes, and communities. As an independent, cross-border initiative hosted by Cardiff University, SEP is uniquely placed to coordinate action across local authorities, government agencies, businesses, and local people.

Dr Rhoda Ballinger, SEP Chair, highlighted the strategic importance of the project:
“This project reflects our continued commitment to collaborative, evidence-led action to support nature recovery and climate adaptation across the estuary. We are also actively seeking additional support to extend these efforts on the English side of the estuary and beyond.”

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, noted:
“This latest round of awards demonstrates the ambition of the Nature Networks Fund and the importance of connecting people to the natural world on their doorsteps. We are proud to work alongside the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales to deliver a more resilient natural environment.”

The “Future Proofing the Severn Estuary” project contributes directly to the ambitions of the Severn Estuary Strategy (2017–2027), particularly in supporting ecosystem-based management, living within environmental limits, and using sound science to inform action.

For updates on this and other projects, follow the Severn Estuary Partnership on social media @SevernEstuary

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