MYGroup has partnered with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to create urban homes for birds along Hull’s Barmston Drain, all produced from recycled plastic waste.
The initiative forms part of the Trust’s collaboration with the Environment Agency, Hull City Council and community action charity, Groundwork, on the ‘Dynamic Drains’ project, aimed at cleaning up and improving wildlife habitats along the Barmston Drain, which has seen a significant amount of water pollution in recent years.
Yorkshire-based MYGroup will create a series of nesting structures to encourage bird species that would otherwise find the environment along the drain challenging to make homes. These structures will include nest boxes for wagtails, sparrow terraces and boxes for swifts and kingfishers.
MYGroup will create the structures from its own MYboard™, a material similar in consistency to plywood created entirely from recycled plastic processed at the company’s facilities in Hull. The nesting structures are expected to last 20-30 years once in place.
MYGroup is a market leader in processing waste considered ‘unrecyclable’ or hard to recycle and has invested in a series of advanced technological processes to ensure such material, usually destined for landfill or incineration, can be transformed back into new products.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will be encouraging members of the public to record sightings of birds and other wildlife along the drain and is developing resources for local schools. The organisation is also keen to engage residents and businesses nearby to the drain to help place the nesting structures.
The project opens up the possibility for similar sustainable bird and wildlife nesting schemes in the area and across Yorkshire.
I’m proud to be partnering with the Trust on this boost for wildlife right on our company’s doorstep. It goes without saying that the project to clean up the waters of the Barmston Drain and encourage animal habitats to flourish goes hand-in-hand with MYGroup’s mission to reduce waste and improve the environment for all to enjoy.
Steve Carrie, Director, MYGroup
MYGroup is helping us create sustainable and ecological homes for birds and grow new habitats in a challenging urban environment. The boxes will be instrumental in restoring this green corridor through the city, and working with a Hull-based provider is key for us in reducing our carbon footprint and engaging closely with the local community.
Andrew Gibson, Outer Humber Officer at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Tackling litter and maximising recycling are both key environmental aims of the council. This project is a great example of closed loop recycling locally being used to support wildlife, so it’s fantastic for the council to be involved.
Doug Sharp, head of streetscene and waste management at Hull City Council
Groundwork, as an environmental charity, is really pleased that MYGroup has been able to work with YWT to construct sustainable bird nesting structures from materials that would have traditionally gone to landfill. They will be a fantastic addition to the work already being undertaken on the drain and can only benefit wildlife and our city.
Karen Tozer, programme manager for Groundwork Yorkshire
MYGroup also coordinated a litter pick with the Trust at its Spurn Head National Nature Reserve east of Hull this week. The collected material will be processed end-to-end at MYGroup, avoiding landfill and incineration.
