Restoring the Soar: Waterside to Watermead (360G-NLHF-HZ-23-00023)

Restoring the Soar is a river restoration project to reconnect and revitalise Leicester’s waterways; it’s most significant historic and natural heritage asset; in danger of being lost through incremental damage and environmental degradation. Working within the natural and historic built environment, and most importantly, its local communities, this project will redefine the river corridor as a destination for understanding history and nature connectedness, its role in climate readiness, travel, flood management, health and recreation. Directly addressing environmental degradation at a landscape scale through habitat restoration and creation and new methods of litter management, the project will enhance this regionally important strategic wildlife corridor. New visitor facilities, path networks, public realm, accessibility, signage and interpretation will create a better physical environment. This, coupled with investment in training, events, volunteering and, vitally, initiatives to engage and encourage people to take care and ownership of their environment will secure its long-term sustainable future