Image credit: Freia Turland Bristol Harbour’s Capricorn Quay is undergoing final preparations to welcome visiting and leisure boaters and bring them closer to nature with new moorings situated alongside Floating Ecosystems. Planted with 6,200 native aquatic plants and 24 native trees, including Guelder Rose, Hazel, Hawthorn and Hornbeam, the Floating Ecosystems provide homes, shelter and feeding areas for wildlife.
With 700 square metres of habitat, including a 522 square metre island that provides a haven for animals living in and on the water, it’s one of the largest floating wetland habitats of its kind. Open pools enable access on and off the island for otters and diving birds, and a unique otter holt offers a potential home to a family of otters. These new floating habitats will provide essential breeding grounds for wildlife, improve water quality and biodiversity while also helping to connect communities with nature.
Councillor Tony Dyer, the Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“Capricorn Quay is a fantastic example of how we can invest in ways to help generate income for the harbour, so that it can be financially sustainable, while supporting nature recovery and creating more spaces for people to connect with and enjoy nature, which we know plays an important role in our health and wellbeing.
“A year on from when the initial sections of the ecosystems were first planted at last year’s Festival of Nature, it’s great to see how the shrubs and trees are maturing, providing shelter for local wildlife, whilst helping to enhance biodiversity and improve water quality in the harbour. We’re delighted that so many visitors to the harbourside are already enjoying this green sanctuary.”
As part of this year’s Festival of Nature, and sponsored by Redcliffe & Temple Business Improvement District, over 200 business leaders, changemakers and regional partners came together on 11 June to connect with people driving nature-based and sustainable innovation across the West of England.
The event focused on nature, innovation, and action aimed at shaping a greener and more resilient West of England, with opportunities to celebrate the exciting work that’s happening across the region to support nature recovery, including Capricorn Quay’s Floating Ecosystems
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:
“One of our defining characteristics here in the West Country is that we care deeply about nature and wildlife – and we also have the strongest recent economic growth of any combined authority area. Our region is a place where sustainability and business can seamlessly come together, as business leaders I met this week already know.
“Investment in our environment brings not only an economic return but a social one. Nature thriving means greener, healthier places for us all to call home.
“It was wonderful to see Capricorn Quay’s floating wetlands thriving, with Tony, alongside new moorings. This inspiring project shows what is possible when the Mayoral Combined Authority and local councils collaborate. Together, as we start a new chapter for the West of England, we will build climate resilience and nature recovery into our growth plans.”
Sitting alongside the floating habitat are new pontoons that will provide 36 moorings for boats that are no longer than 10 metres and hold either a short-term visitor or leisure licence for Bristol Harbour. The income from these licences will be reinvested to further improve services and facilities in the harbour. New showers, toilets and an accessible wet room, housed in a building mounted on a pontoon, will be available for boaters moored at these pontoons. The floating services building, complete with a unit for emptying portable toilets, is the first of its kind to be produced on the UK.
Capricorn Quay’s Floating Ecosystems and new pontoon moorings have been delivered in collaboration with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and alongside contractors Biomatrix and Inland and Coastal Marina Systems. Bristol City Council has invested £570,000 into the installation of the new mooring pontoons and facilities, matching £480,000 of funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Green Recovery Fund for the Floating Ecosystems.
The council are exploring the addition of a floating classroom and maintenance barge to sit amongst the ecosystems which would provide an opportunity for volunteers, including schoolchildren and research students, to get involved with data collection, surveys and water sampling that will help to monitor and record plant growth, insects and birds on and around the Floating Ecosystems.
To find out more about Bristol Harbour, including moorings, facilities, and the activities and events taking place visit the new harbour website.
