Image description: One of the new signs as part of the history and wildlife trail. Credit: Groundwork Yorkshire.

The latest phase of Hull’s Dynamic Drains initiative has launched along Holderness Drain in East Hull, transforming previously underused land into a linear park, expanding the city’s wildlife and history trail, and improving access to fishing. The £235,000 project, a partnership project with the Environment Agency, Groundwork Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hull City Council, is part of a broader effort to enhance Hull’s urban watercourses and create more resilient, accessible public spaces. Highlights include a new fruit-tree-lined footpath, wildlife-themed public art co-designed by local children, and new fishing infrastructure.

The EA says this development marks continued progress in repurposing Hull’s drainage infrastructure not just for flood risk management, but for community benefit and environmental enhancement. By integrating local engagement, ecological improvement, and urban design, the project aims to build stronger connections between residents and their natural surroundings. It also reflects a growing trend in multi-functional watercourse management, aligning flood resilience with public amenity and biodiversity goals.

With the pilot phase along Beverley and Barmston Drain completed last year and Holderness Drain now in focus, partners including the Environment Agency, Hull City Council, Groundwork Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will be monitoring community use and environmental impact. Additional features – such as fishing platforms and further trail interpretation – are expected to follow. The approach could offer a replicable model for other urban areas seeking to revitalise their water infrastructure in ways that deliver both ecological and social value.