Cumbrian rivers recognised in international environmental prize

A groundbreaking river restoration programme in Cumbria has narrowly missed out on successful the world’s most prestigious water conservation award. 

The international closing had quite a few thrilling and transformative initiatives nominated throughout the globe, from Albania to the Western United States. A venture from Chicago was topped the eventual winner of the prize.

The Thiess International Riverprize Awards in Brisbane, showcased probably the most modern and efficient water conservation methods, highlighting finest practices, paving the best way for future initiatives globally. 

The nomination for the Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme places the English county on the forefront of worldwide environmental management.

The transformative programme has restored over 100 kilometres of watercourses and reconnected 100’s of hectares of floodplain throughout the Eden, Derwent and Kent catchments. 

That’s the equal of restoring waterways stretching an analogous distance to that between Preston and Penrith, making a community of thriving habitats that profit each wildlife and native communities.

Since launching in 2010, the programme has introduced rivers again to life by reconnecting pure meanders, eradicating outdated weirs that blocked fish migration, and planting hundreds of native timber alongside riverbanks. 

The outcomes converse for themselves: salmon have returned to spawn within the restored areas, otters are thriving the place concrete channels as soon as dominated, and the place it’s has been possible some communities throughout Cumbria are higher protected against flooding via pure defences.

The programme demonstrates the facility of collaboration, bringing collectively the Environment Agency, Natural England, National Trust, RSPB, Cumbria Connect, Lowther Estate, Ullswater CIC, United Utilities, and the Eden, West Cumbria and South Cumbria Rivers Trusts.

Working intently with native farmers has been key to success. Landowners profit from improved soil well being and higher water administration, whereas restored river techniques present pure infrastructure that adapts to local weather change and helps rural economies.

The restored habitats additionally create important corridors for wildlife motion, instantly supporting the federal government’s dedication to guard 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Looking to the longer term, the worldwide recognition gives a platform to share the programme’s strategy extra broadly. Serving as a blueprint for future initiatives. 

With a want to revive all of Cumbria’s rivers and in flip its pure ecosystems, the Environment Agency and Natural England will proceed to work with any companions trying to improve Cumbria’s out of doors areas for the wildlife and folks throughout the county.

Olly Southgate, Cumbria River Restoration Programme Manager on the Environment Agency, mentioned:

We’re extremely proud that our partnership strategy was nominated amongst among the planet’s largest river restoration initiatives and it serves as recognition of Cumbria’s environmental management on the world stage.

The programme exhibits how sustainable, nature-based restoration can remodel waterways for future generations. From eradicating obstacles to fish migration to creating pure flood defences, we’re proving that native motion delivers actual outcomes for local weather resilience.

Every restored river, each reconnected floodplain, each returned salmon represents progress in direction of a future the place individuals and nature thrive collectively. That imaginative and prescient, and the partnerships that make it potential, matter way over any prize.

Helen Kirkby, Natural England’s Deputy Director for Cumbria, mentioned:

While we’re naturally dissatisfied to not have gained, being chosen as one in every of simply 4 international finalists for the world’s most prestigious river restoration award is a exceptional achievement that displays fifteen years of devoted partnership working. 

What began as a modest collaboration between Natural England, the Environment Agency and Cumbria’s three Rivers Trusts has advanced into one thing distinctive – a partnership that now consists of the National Trust, RSPB, United Utilities, Ullswater CIC, Cumbria Connect and lots of others, all united by a shared dedication to giving our rivers the house they should thrive.

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