South Cumbria Rivers Trust have just removed a small weir in the Grizedale catchment in South Cumbria. This project was a low-risk barrier removal funded by the Environment Agency. Watch the video to learn more about the project, why the removal of barriers are important and the weir itself being removed!
The Conserving Coniston & Crake project has produced a good practice guide for owners of septic tanks and why looking after them matters to our becks and lakes. The guide offers advice on how they should be maintained, when they need to be emptied and what should or shouldn’t go into them. Whilst it has been written by the Coniston & Crake team, the information is applicable to anyone anywhere with a septic tank. Find the guide HERE. The guide…
We have completed an exciting Natural Flood Management (NFM) project in Kendal Town Centre. Read all about it here. Kendal Town View Fields NFM Project
The Fight the Aliens Day was another huge success after more than 60 volunteers attended to pull the pesky non-native species Himalayan Balsam in Rydal last Saturday. #BalsamBashing Friends of the Lake District, our partners for this event, have released a press release here; https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/volunteers-pull-together-to-fight-the-aliens There are some pictures below for you. Fancy find out more about Himalayan Balsam and how to pull it? Take a look at the invasive species section of our website as well as this great video…
Fight the Aliens day is BACK this weekend! Information about the event can be found here: https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/event/fight-the-aliens-big-balsam-bash-2020 Last year saw huge number of volunteers attend the fight to eradicate Himalayan Balsam with Friends of the Lake District and the Kent Catchment Partnership. https://scrt.co.uk/news/aliens-assassinated/ In preparation for the event this weekend, some of our volunteers have put together a how to guide, to help explain the best way to pull Himalayan Balsam. Take a look;
Over the coming weeks we will be delivering a natural flood management project at Reston Scar above Staveley. Natural flood management projects ‘mimic’ natural processes to help slow the flow of water. In addition they often increase resilience to drought conditions and help increase local biodiversity. The aim of the project at Reston Scar is to ‘test and trial’ new techniques to reduce flood risk for rural communities. We will be installing several leaky timber structures and undertaking drainage works…
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is effecting individuals and businesses alike. Self distancing is the new ‘norm’ and we have put provisions in place for staff to work from home, where possible, and cancelled all non-essential activities, including; meetings and engagement activities to do our bit to stop the spread of the virus. Yes we may have a more virtual presence but it doesn’t mean our staff aren’t working hard behind the scenes to keep the charity going and continue our…
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…