The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant will support key nature project at Rickmansworth Aquadrome

A Heritage Fund grant of £161,691 has been awarded to Three Rivers District Council to conserve and understand the natural network within the Aquadrome as part of the plan to enhance and protect the site.

The funding will enable several site surveys to take place as part of an important project, ‘Identify, Inform, Involve - Natural Heritage Networks at Rickmansworth Aquadrome’.

The project focuses on collecting information about the site including the hydrological principles of the flood plain, its species and its important habitats. This information will enable future work to be fully informed so that the right decisions are made about conserving, nurturing, and protecting the nature reserve. The funding will also support staffing to oversee the implementation of the project.

The project will also help to investigate options to maximise habitat restoration. This includes research work undertaking a river habitat condition assessment and establishing a detailed baseline habitat survey.

The grant will also fund exciting community engagement activities, such as workshops and activities to gather stories about the site’s social and natural heritage, as well as public consultation on the planned work so that the important story of the Aquadrome can be shared.

This grant contributes to the wider Aquadrome Project aspirations and acts as the forerunner to a large grant application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund being made towards the end of 2024.

Cllr Sarah Nelmes, council leader, said: “Receiving this grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, is a significant stepping stone to understanding more and appreciating the Aquadrome.

“The Aquadrome is a very special place that is cherished by our residents and the local wildlife.

“That is why the council is committed to protecting and nurturing this unique nature reserve, and our work must enhance the site so that it can be enjoyed in the future and benefit everyone, from the wildlife to our community.”