News

Elterwater Paleo Channel Re-connection We are working to re-connect Great Langdale Beck via its paleo-channel into the middle basin of Elterwater. Elterwater is a three-basin system which has historic water quality issues. During summer 2020 we have funding under the Water Environment Grant to undertake this project. Historic maps, shown in Figure 1, indicate the original, natural course of Great Langdale Beck into middle basin. During the early 1900’s these channels were diverted into a straightened channel, which now bypasses…

On the 24th October the Environment Agency launched their Challenges and Choices consultation. This is the second consultation which will inform updates to the River Basin Management Plans from 2015, open until the 24th April 2020. In this consultation the Environment Agency have described what they think are the biggest challenges affecting the water environment and have outlined ideas on how to address them. They are now asking for your views and what you think should be done. The final plans,…

Over the last couple of months, we have been organising freshwater biosecurity workshops throughout the midlands region. Under the Animal and Plant Health Agencies (APHA) banner, RAPID life is a three-year EU Life funded project, aiming to deliver measures that will reduce the impact and spread of IAS (Invasive Alien Species) in freshwater aquatic, riparian and coastal environments across England; you also may know them as Invasive Non-Native species (INNS). The country has been split in to 5 regions and SCRT…

Our Conserving Coniston and Crake team have a nest box event coming up! You will be able to make your own nest box for your garden as well as one for the Conserving Coniston and Crake project. See below for more information. Nest Box Workshop

The habitat improvement project at The Wood Farm on the River Winster is now complete. Approximately 480m of the River Winster is now fenced, protecting the watercourse from livestock poaching, sedimentation and nutrient enrichment. The project included 700m of stockproof line wire fencing along the river and native tree planting to create natural river bank areas. Native tree planting in the newly created riparian zone will provide an important riparian habitat in areas previously devoid of bankside vegetation. By limiting…

Our Electrofishing report 2019 is now available! This report includes information about our Electroishing sites, species found, area specifics and more. We use this technique to assess juvenile salmonid (salmon and trout) populations and it helps us understand trends over time. It also helps to gather some basic habitat information as well as being an important engagement tool for those interested in learning more about their local becks. Salmonids are also key indicators of freshwater health and general catchment functioning. So lots…

The habitat improvement project at Low Foxfield, on Spannel Beck in South Cumbria is now complete. Approximately 475 metres of Spannel Beck, a tributary of the River Winster is now protected from livestock poaching, sedimentation and nutrient enrichment. The project included 950 metres of fencing alongside the watercourse and native species tree planting to create natural river bank areas. We are currently looking to plant trees in the newly created riparian zone, which will help to slow the flow of…

We have installed 3 islands on the outer basin of Elterwater (close to Windermere) to a. provide nesting habitat for species such as Great Crested Grebe and b. to create floating vegetated habitat to aid in nutrient assimilation. They have just been planted with vegetation native to the hydrosere of Elterwater in preparation for the grebes during nesting season. We hope they will also help to soak up nutrient and phosphate compounds from the water. These islands will be monitored…

South Cumbria Rivers Trust have arranged a soil workshop on 30th January 2020. The Healthy Soils; Resilient Farms workshop is a FREE event for farmers in the Staveley, Kentmere, Ings and Troutbeck areas. The workshop will be run by soil health specialist, agronomist and farmer, James Bretherton that promises to be extremely informative. It is to be held at the Lakeland Farm Visitor Centre in Ings. Please follow the link below for more information. HEALTHY SOILS; RESILIENT FARMS Flier Get in touch at…

Esthwaite Water is situated in South Cumbria, near Windermere. Not only is Esthwaite Water one of the best studied lakes in the world, it is also one of the most nutrient enriched lakes in the English Lake District. A project site was recently identified on the shore of Esthwaite water SSSI. This is a project area in which we are working to reduce sediment and nutrient input into the lake, aiming to improve water quality in the SSSI. At the…