Once standing across the River Kent, Site of Special Scientific Interest/Special Area of Conservation (SSSI/SAC), Bowston weir was removed in summer 2022.

Now, our Bowston weir removal project has reached the finals for two awards coming up in April and May.

We are finalists for the UK River Prize, a prestigious prize that celebrates the achievements of those working to improve the natural functioning and ecological integrity of rivers and catchments, throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Judged by a panel of UK experts, the UK River Prize winners will be announced on 19th April 2023 at the River Restoration Centre Annual Network Conference in Birmingham. After winning the European River Prize for Cumbria River Restoration with partners last November, we are delighted that this project has reached the finals, especially as there are so many wonderful river restoration projects happening throughout the UK. Find out more about the project and the other finalists HERE.

Bowston weir removal is also a finalist for the Dam Removal Award 2022. Being a European prize, there is stiff competition from dam removals that have taken place in Spain, Lithuania and the UK. This is a relatively new award but the winner will win £10,000 towards their next dam removal. Want to have your say? There is a public vote for the winner, accounting for 50% of the vote. Have a look at the other finalists and make your vote count HERE. The winner will be announced in May at the UK Dam Removal Conference in Manchester.

This was the first major weir removal on the River Kent. This weir removal alone has improved river form and function, improved fish migration, navigation, reduced flood risk and provided a 44% biodiversity net gain.

Thank you to our project partners for all their hard work in bringing this fantastic project to fruition. Project Partners: Environment Agency, Natural England, cbec eco-engineering UK, Dynamic Rivers, Ebsford Environmental, Envirotech NW and Prof. Neil Entwistle from Salford University. Removal was funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.