Wildlife of local rivers is set to benefit from a grant of £400,000. The money has been awarded to Eden Rivers Trust by Natural England as part of its Countdown 2010 scheme. The scheme aims to improve the fortunes of some of our most precious species and habitats by the end of the decade.
Salmon, brown trout, white-clawed crayfish, bullheads, eels, brook and river lampreys, otters and water voles are just some of the species that will benefit.
The money will pay for work to improve their habitats. Activities such as fencing and tree planting will be used to create the best possible conditions for wildlife. Measures will also be taken to stop soil and farm waste getting into water courses.
Fish passes will be installed where man-made barriers such as weirs stop fish moving up rivers to spawn. Water crowfoot will be planted in rivers where it has been lost, because it provides shelter and food for many river creatures. The extremely invasive plant known as Himalayan balsam will be controlled at the upper limit of its distribution in the Eden tributaries. Mink will be controlled to help water vole populations.
Joanne Backshall, Conservation Officer for Eden Rivers Trust, said, “We are delighted to receive this money. Some of these animals are among the most endangered species in our rivers and the funding will allow us to make a real difference.”
The £400,000 will allow projects which have already started to be successfully completed as well as launching new ones. Local land owners and angling associations have already contributed funding for these projects and this allowed Eden Rivers Trust to bid for the 2010 funding.
The Trust would like to hear from any farmers who have ideas of projects which could be undertaken with the money. We are particularly interested in proposals involving the Rivers Leith and Lyvennet near Penrith, the Hoff and Helm Becks near Appleby, and the River Irthing near Brampton.
For more details contact Joanne Backshall at Eden Rivers Trust on 01768 866788 or email joanne@edenriverstrust.org.uk. Further details of the work of Eden Rivers Trust can be found on www.edenriverstrust.org.uk and more information about Countdown 2010 can be found on www.countdown2010.net
