Manvers Waterfront Boat Club wins award for biosecurity and invasive species efforts

The club, which has 2,500 members and a private lake, has achieved its Bronze AQUA accreditation as part of the AQUA scheme, which is run by the Bristol Zoological Society, South West Water and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, among others.

Chris Wordsworth, commercial manager at Manvers Lake Trust, said: “Manvers Lake is extremely proud to be the first venue in the north to receive the Bronze Aquatic Quality Award.

“Our water quality is tested monthly by an external company against the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 and is excellent.

“Gaining this award is another accolade for us, showing our commitment to improving our lake and parkland.

“Familiarising users of our facility on the ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ message can only increase the awareness and improve our waterways. We are now currently working towards the Silver Award.”

Neil Green, UK biosecurity project officer at Bristol Zoological Society and project lead of AQUA, said: “The initial AQUA project was solely focused in the South West of England, with 45 sites accredited between bronze, silver or gold, in that region.

“We are really happy to announce the awarding of AQUA Bronze to Manvers Lake in South Yorkshire, the first site outside of the South West to be accredited.

“The team have worked incredibly hard to gain this award and it is much deserved. So huge congratulations to them. Now onto the Silver Award.”

Over 2,000 non-native plants and animals have been introduced to Britain from all over the world, and around ten-15 per cent spread and become invasive, harming wildlife and the environment. They cost the economy almost £2 billion a year and can impact on our health and way of life.