A new project to improve the River Petteril for wildlife has been initiated by Eden Rivers Trust. The River Petteril is a major tributary of the River Eden in Cumbria and runs north from Penrith to join the Eden at Carlisle.
Once termed the ‘Jewel of the Eden’, the River Petteril has been shown by research carried out by Eden Rivers Trust to be one of the Eden’s worse tributaries for wildlife.
The Petteril has been heavily modified by man and this has made it less suitable for wildlife. For example, sections have been straightened, banks have been reinforced, and many tributaries have been forced into pipes and culverts.
The river suffers from dirty water running off the M6 motorway, and has high levels of certain chemicals in the water (nitrates and phosphates) which are probably derived from fertilisers and manures from farms.
Along the banks there is little in the way of trees and woodland and this means food and shelter for wildlife is very limited. Invasive plants originally from other countries are replacing those from this country. The majority of the river banks are grazed by cattle and sheep. Grazing leads to trampling and erosion of the banks and this causes large amounts of earth to enter the river. This covers stones and gravels on the river bed which many insects and fish need to be clean if they are to survive and reproduce. The urban expansion of Carlisle has also adversely affected river wildlife in the city stretches.
The aim of the new Petteril project is to carry out work on the river to improve it for wildlife. This will include riverside fencing, tree planting and tackling alien invasive plants like Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam. The project will also look at creating gravel conditions in the river in which fish can lay their eggs.
Alison Reed, formerly the Water Vole Project Officer with Eden Rivers Trust and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, has been appointed to the role. Alison said, “I am very pleased to be joining Eden Rivers Trust and am looking forward to working with local communities to try and restore the Petteril to its former glory.”
Part of the project will be to provide advice to farmers about the best use of fertilisers and manures. This can save farmers considerable amounts of money while also benefiting the river. Anyone interested in talking to Eden Rivers Trust about this should contact Alison Reed on 01768 866788.
Simon Johnson, Director of Eden Rivers Trust, said, “For too many years the Petteril has been the Cinderella river of the Eden catchment. The funding we have received from DEFRA will allow us to get on with the job of improving this very special and historic stream. We are looking forward to working with the agricultural community in the Petteril Valley.”
The project starts on 1 December 2009 and will run initially for one year, with the hope of extending it in future years should funding be forthcoming. It is a partnership project with the Association of Rivers Trusts and is funded by DEFRA through the European Water Framework Directive. Eden Rivers Trust will be collaborating with the Environment Agency, The Wild Trout Trust and Penrith Angling Association on this exciting project.
