The first “floating ecosystem” in York has been launched on the River Ouse in an attempt to create a habitat for wildlife and improve the quality of water within the city.
Attached to the city’s North Street Gardens river wall, it is hoped that the articifial island will provide a suitable habitat for many species of small mammals.
Pollinators such as bees and wasps should also be attracted to the large number of plants on the platform, at a time when their numbers are dwindling.
The project has been led by charities St Nicks and York Cares with financial backing provided by insurance firm Aviva whose York HQ is located nearby on Wellington Row.
Shelley Kernaghan from Aviva said that the firm was “happy to help fund as we regularly support charities and projects within our local communities”.
With the new project being just outside their offices, “it’s hoped our colleagues, and the wider community will be able to enjoy seeing the wildlife that is attracted to the ecosystem for years to come”.
St Nicks’ Jonathan Dent said: “It’s an amazing project to inject some life back into the water in the city of York,” and that the project is a “culmination of months of planning and hard work from many York organisations”.
Scottish firm Biomatrix designed the structure. It is 54ft (16.5m) long by 7.5ft (2.3m) wide and is home to between 20 and 30 different plant species all capable of providing an ecosystem for small animals.
There are hopes it will be a feeding ground for birds and fish alike.
Ellen Spurge from Biomatrix said: “As well as all of the ecological benefits, the island will bring amenity to the local people.
“One of the best elements of any project installation is being able to see the delight on the volunteer’s faces when they help to assemble and plant the islands, making a sustainable platform for future generations of York to build upon.”