Humber Nature Partnership

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: