A new project in Barnsley, a town in South Yorkshire, England, aims to revitalize wildlife habitats damaged by wastewater treatment plants, according to a BBC News article.

Yorkshire Water, a water supply and treatment company, has announced that it will help restore four habitats in Lundwood, Worsbrough, Wombwell and Darton. By planting trees and creating new ponds, the habitat treatment project is expected to significantly improve conditions for wildlife native to the four sites.

The restoration work will be a great help to amphibians, dragonflies, wading birds and wildlife in the forest, some of which are threatened with extinction.

One endangered species the project hopes to help is the willow tit. A rare bird species that is endangered in the UK, the population of the willow tit has declined by 94% since the 1970s.

Due to their rapid decline, willow tits are the UK’s most threatened bird species. Already extinct across most of southern England, the willow tit is rarer than the southern white rhino, according to a paper by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

As well as protecting species such as tits, the project has already released £13 million to reduce the amount of phosphorus in treated wastewater discharged into the River Dearne.

The restoration project aims not only to restore the contaminated areas, but also to support local biodiversity.

“We will be creating new ponds for dragonflies and amphibians, while also planting trees to increase species diversity and create habitat for woodland wildlife,” said Mike Winstanley, regional manager of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Restoration projects like the Yorkshire Water initiative are important steps towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. By tackling water pollution, the Yorkshire Water team protects habitats while providing safer outdoor spaces for the local community.

“Our partnership with Yorkshire Water offers a fantastic opportunity to create more space for nature in post-industrial and more urbanised areas,” said Mike Winstanley.

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