Humber Nature Partnership
- Catchment HostHumber Nature Partnership
- River Basin DistrictHumber
- Management CatchmentHumber TraC
- Management Catchment ID3040
Catchment partnership vision
The Humber Nature Partnership works with its members and others to deliver sustainable management of the Humber Estuary European marine site. Our vision is for the Humber to be a rich and resilient environment, in which industry and nature coexist in harmony bringing benefits for wildlife, business and local communities. Our members include major industries, environmental regulators, local authorities and non-governmental organisations all working to conserve and enhance the Humber Estuary. We engage with the general public via the Humber Nature Forum and by working with local volunteer groups.
Related websites
Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.
Catchment challenges
Current challenges identified by partnership
Physical modifications
Flood management programme resulting in coastal squeeze
Pollution from agriculture and rural areas
Agricultural runoff causing the estuary to have excess nutrients
Invasive Non-native Species
Invasive non-native species impact on both the marine, freshwater and terrestrial environment
Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership
The partnership have not identified any wider water environment challenges
Future challenges predicted by partnership
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Physical modifications
Invasive Non-native Species
Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency
Future challenges in 2050
- Invasive Non-native Species
- Changes to the natural flow and water levels
- Pollution from waste water
Emerging challenges
- Changes to the natural flow and water levels
- Pollution from waste water
- Pollution from towns, cities and transport
Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021
Since 2016 there have been numerous successes:
- over 100 hectares of new wetland habitat has now been established on the south bank of the Humber as part of the South Humber Gateway mitigation scheme - the scheme received an award from the Royal Town Planning Institute
- 2019 saw the completion of the Donna Nook managed realignment site in Lincolnshire by the Environment Agency, ensuring 110 hectares of intertidal habitat
- recent reed bed management work by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has seen the creation of approximately 5 km of new channels which will benefit the wide range of wetland species
- We developed 'Wild Humber', a 25 minute documentary on bird migration focussed on the Humber Estuary, available on our YouTube channel along with the previous 'Our Estuary' series and recording of recent Humber Nature Forum meetings
- East Halton River Care was set up in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy to address chronic fly tipping. - over 1000 kilograms of waste removed so far
- issues with off-roading addressed with Humberside Police
- Humber Nature Forum (HNF) is a public-facing event that takes place 3 times a year and allows for open-discussion on topics and issues on the Estuary
- work has progressed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and wider partners to support and expand the existing seagrass beds at Spurn and re-introduce native oysters into the estuary.
Partnership development plans
We would like to see greater direct involvement from the water industry and the agricultural community. Closer relationships with scientific and the academic community. More public facing material and community involvement. Engagement with public bodies such as parish councils.
Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027
Confident
Enhancement/no deterioration measures in 2020-2025 Water Industry National Environment Programme
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage point source discharges
- Delivery mechanism
- Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
- Location
- Humber TraC
Confident
New areas of inter-tidal habitat to offset the effects of coastal squeeze
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- EA Flood/coastal risk management programme
- Location
- HUMBER LOWER
Less certain
Address spread of Invasive Non-native Species
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage invasive non-native species
- Delivery mechanism
- Nature Recovery Network
- Barriers to delivery
- No clear mechanism to address - working with Hull University to study further
- Location
- HUMBER UPPER HUMBER LOWER HUMBER MIDDLE
Less certain
Measures to address agricultural runoff
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- Environment Land Management Scheme (future full-scale roll-out)
- Barriers to delivery
- Depends on forthcoming Environmental Land Management Schemes
- Location
- HUMBER UPPER HUMBER LOWER HUMBER MIDDLE
Less certain
Measures to address and reduce impacts sea level rise
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Developer funded
- Barriers to delivery
- Ongoing investigation into low carbon and carbon capture developments on the Humber
- Location
- HUMBER UPPER HUMBER LOWER HUMBER MIDDLE
Catchment Partnership contributors
Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: