Last Friday Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey visited the North West to see first-hand the effect that dry weather has had on the region.
Minister Coffey met the local Environment Agency (EA) team and representatives from United Utilities (UU) to learn about their important work to protect the environment from reduced water levels and look at Teggsnose and Bottoms Reservoir, where the EA has applied for a Drought Permit to slow the release of water in order to maintain flow to the downstream River Bollin.
"The Environment Agency will continue to do quite a lot of river monitoring. I still want to encourage people if they see wildlife in distress then do use the hotline to report that. We will move fish if that’s what we need to do to keep them going."
"It is wonderful to be here to officially open this impressive new structure which will help ensure our forests are stocked with trees in a more sustainable and productive fashion.
The forests and woodlands that these trees will go on to be a part of are vital for providing timber, protecting wildlife, and helping us improve our environment for the next generation."
The glasshouse is part of a £5 million project, and boasts computerised environmental controls, rainwater harvesting from the glasshouse roof into a 15 million-litre capacity lagoon and a boom irrigation system, which allows accurate watering and can apply fertiliser and chemicals.