News

Tees Rivers Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Commercial Development Officer who can develop the Tees Angling Passport scheme by working with local businesses and angling clubs. This post is part of the Fish For Tees programme that has been funded by the National Lottery Green Recovery Challenge Fund. This large project will run until 31st March 2023 and the scope of works includes: marine restoration, intertidal restoration, development of an angling passport and riparian habitat improvements.

The role is part-time (20 hours per week) based in the North East of England and has a competitive salary.

For further information regarding this role, please contact Judy Power, Project Manager, via: Email: judy@teesriverstrust.org. Telephone: 07881 271047

Applications will be welcomed from 4 February 2022, closing on 4 March 2022.

The Rivers & Wetlands Community Days programme is back for 2022, funding practical action by local people to make things better for their rivers and wetlands, now and into the future. Funded by Thames Water, and run by a group including also the Angling Trust, Environment Agency, Institute of Fisheries Management and Wild Trout Trust, we’re looking to support projects big and small, from a couple of practical days with volunteers, through to larger-scale improvement work for rivers and wetlands.

We’ll welcome applications from local, non-Governmental community groups working in the Thames Water catchment, including rivers and wildlife trusts, flood groups, countryside/catchment partnerships, angling clubs and conservation volunteers.

Guy Mawle has written a report on the state of the River Usk in  Wales. This river is a Special Area of Conservation, subject to the highest levels of protection, and yet this detailed report shows that 

'the ecology of the River Usk is degraded and deteriorating. If it is to be restored, or even resilient, there will have to be a sea change in strategy, resources, regulation and management.......‘Business as usual’ means further deterioration due to climate change, poor agricultural practice, and inadequate sewage treatment.'

The state of the Usk is likely to be reflected in many other rivers in the UK.

Defra are consulting on their proposed approach to beaver reintroduction and management in England. The consultation is seeking views on:

• Potential future releases into the wild
• Current and future releases into enclosures
• Mitigation and management of beaver activity or impacts in the wild, including the River Otter population and all other existing wild living beaver populations

The consultation closes on 17 November

Following a great deal of reading, discussion and visits to beaver sites in the UK and the support of WTT staff, trustees and an excellent group of external advisors we have now submitted our response.

Nick Lawrence, WTT Conservation Officer for the south, carried out three days of practical training for 14 volunteer river keepers from the headwaters of the Itchen and Test in October. The training involved a variety of soft engineering techniques using locally won woody material to deflect flows and scour out fresh gravel, narrow the channel and create cover for trout. This was both a training exercise and a mini project to improve the habitat for trout and other wildlife on the Upper Test in Hampshire. In all, 16 woody ‘structures’ were put on place by the volunteers – enough to keep everyone busy, learn a variety of techniques and make a real difference to the quality of the habitat in the river. This is connected to a larger project that will be delivered next year.

The owner of the beat was very pleased and said he planned to continue the good work and adopt the same methods for managing the river as did the other trainees on the day, who also requested WTT advisory visits.

The day was funded by the National Lottery under the Watercress and Winterbournes project, which is a five-year Landscape Partnership Scheme that is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating seven local chalk streams. The scheme is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and brings together 16 partners, including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Yesterday the House of Commons rejected some key amendments to the Environment Bill made by the House of Lords. 

One of the amendments rejected was a legal duty on water companies to reduce sewage damage to rivers. Some of the water company CEO's gave evidence to the Parliamentary Enquiry on Water Quality in Rivers on 13 October. The rejection of the amendment to the Environment Bill is hugely disappointing given the amount of public interest in this topic, with campaigning, media coverage, petitions and (apparent) support from the Government and Defra for example, in July .Minister Rebecca Pow said:

'Water companies have environmental responsibilities and they must realise them. They have a legal duty to avoid pollution to our rivers and other waterways.

The ‘Woodlands for Water’ project aims to create 3,150 hectares of trees in six river catchment areas from Devon to Cumbria by March 2025. 

Farmers and landowners will be able to apply for funding through the ‘England Woodland Creation Offer’ grant which provides greater financial incentives for landowners and farmers to plant and manage trees, including along rivers and watercourses.

The project will be carried out by the ‘Riverscapes’ Partnership, comprising of the Rivers Trust, National Trust, Woodland Trust and Beaver Trust.