Not one but two culverts in the South Cumbria have been removed over the last couple of months.

A culvert is defined as an enclosed artificial channel or pipe that is used to continue a watercourse under ground or a structure.

Culverts can have a number of negative impacts on the environment, including loss of habitat and environmental features. Culverts impede or block movement of fish and other aquatic species, as they fragment river habitat and disrupt natural processes. Here at South Cumbria Rivers Trust, we aim to restore rivers and becks to their natural form and function – river restoration in other words.

De-culvert 1

The first de-culverting project occurred in the Poaka catchment, sitting above Ulverston in South Cumbria. Hannah has been working with Untied Utilities clean water team to help improve the water quality of three reservoirs, that provide drinking water to the local town. You can find out more about the project here.

This summer has seen one of the biggest projects to date with one kilometre of river restoration works. A massive 750 metres of which was de-culverting!

Not only is there now a daylighted beck, there are other new features too. We have created wetland scrapes to better improve habitat, a new fence line for an increased buffer strip to reduce run-off and improve biodiversity as well as installed leaky dams to trap sediments and slow flows.

De-culvert 2

The second de-culvert came from the Duddon valley. Hannah worked up the project as part of our work for the Duddon Landscape Recovery Scheme. The National Trust Riverlands project then removed the culvert this summer. These works will restore natural processes and allow aquatic species access.

Thank you to the landowners for allowing this great work to happen as well as our partners and funders.