Get a bird’s eye view of the Long Preston floodplain
The sights and sounds of the floodplain at Long Preston are now available for everyone to see in a new virtual tour.
With abundant wildlife throughout the year including snipe, redshank, curlew, oystercatchers and lapwing, Long Preston floodplain is a priority habitat for wading bird populations.
But the area, and its fantastic wildlife, remains largely undiscovered.
The virtual tour gives everyone the chance to get a birds-eye view of the floodplain through the seasons and discover its wildlife and history. It also helps to highlight the importance of a healthy floodplain to increase biodiversity, improve water and mitigate against the effects of a changing climate.
It is part of a wider scheme of work by Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Ribble Rivers Trust, landowners, and other partners called ‘Deeper Connections’.
The project aims to regenerate the mosaic of habitats in the Long Preston floodplain area and connect local communities and wider audiences with this unique landscape.
It is funded by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.
Ten hectares of habitat will be created and restored on the Long Preston floodplain, including sixteen separate schemes that will regenerate riparian woodlands and hedgerows, protect wetlands and tributaries, and provide natural flood management.
As well as the virtual tour, there will be improved access and interpretation, volunteering opportunities and events.
Rima Berry, YDMT’s Programmes Co-ordinator, said: “Deeper Connections is proud to be part of the biggest ever nationwide initiative to invest in nature and bring nature closer to people, wherever they live, work or play.
“The virtual tour is a great initiative to open up Long Preston Deeps to the wider community. We want to share this unique area with as many people as possible and inspire people to care, visit and support the restoration of this wildlife rich floodplain.”
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust is conducting a survey to find out what is needed to better connect
people to the area and ensure that local people benefit from this special landscape.
You can view the virtual tour and fill out the survey at ydmt.org/deeper-connections
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