CRITICALLY endangered fresh water pearl mussels are set to benefit from more than £215,000 of funding over the next four years to help improve their habitat in the River Clun.

The River Clun has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the population of fresh water pearl mussels but without immediate action the river's population could be extinct in just 25 years.

A grant from WREN, a not for profit business that awards grants generated by landfill tax through sites owned by FCC Environment, will enable the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership to extend the lifespan of the current pearl mussel population and aid the recovery of other species by enhancing the river's habitat.

Mike Kelly of Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership, said: "The WREN funding will go towards conserving pearl mussel habitat, through continued control of livestock access and management of river habitats. It will also help to manipulate other recovery sites, in order for translocation of the mussels to take place."

Further measures will also be taken right across the River Clun catchment area to address the root causes of the current unfavourable condition, such as fine sediment and other pollutants from upstream.

The River Clun Recovery Project is one of 12 recipients of WREN's Biodiversity Action Fund to receive a share of the fund this year, totalling more than £2.7 million. Other organisations to benefit include the Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Buglife.

The national fund, which is now in its sixth year, has helped support 73 projects at a total cost of £15,829,398 since 2009. More than 500 sites have benefitted from the funding including 130 sites of Special Scientific Interest and 14,000 hectares of priority habitats such as chalk streams, grassland and coastal reed beds.

Kristian Dales, sales and marketing director at FCC Environment said the number and quality of projects applying for the biodiversity fund increases every year. "FCC Environment and WREN are together committed to supporting projects which protect, maintain and expand some of the country's most unique ecosystems. We're looking forward to seeing the projects take shape with help from the WREN funding, and seeing the positive impact they'll have, helping to conserve natural spaces and species for generations to come. These projects will also help the UK meet government targets to improve and increase biodiversity."

Conservation, biodiversity or wildlife projects that are interested in WREN's Biodiversity Action Fund can check their eligibility by visiting www.wren.org.uk. The next deadline for applications is January 31, 2015.