Wear Rivers Trust

Before ➡ During ➡ After
On the Smallhope Burn, we tackled riverbank erosion using willow and brash bundles alongside our amazing volunteers. 💙
Results? Reduced erosion, natural bank recovery & improved habitat. 💧
Nature-led restoration in action. 🌿
#RiverRestoration #GreenBankEngineering

🎉 Positive River News!

August is already underway but let's take a moment to look back at some of the brilliant things that happened around our rivers in July.

🧵

Small Balsam (Impatiens parviflora) is an invasive species of concern. Though typically <1m tall and less prominent than Himalayan Balsam, it spreads rapidly and can destabilise riverbanks due to its shallow roots. Last image shows comparison between Himalayan Balsam (left) & Small Balsam (right). 🌼

We had an excellent morning out with our volunteers surveying the Fylands wetland, where the River Gaunless flows through. A huge thank you to all volunteers who contributed time and expertise to this valuable survey. Your efforts support ongoing research and local conservation strategies. 💙

Our recent electrofishing demonstration showcased the use of electrofishing equipment in a live setting, highlighting how this method enables the temporary stunning and safe capture of fish for identification and data collection. Thank you to our attendees for contributing to an informative day. 🐟

📢 We're hiring!
Wear Rivers Trust are recruiting a SuDS+ Monitoring Support Officer! 💧
🔗 Find out more via: environmentjob.co.uk/.../106821-s....
📩 To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to: admin@wear-rivers-trust.org.uk
#JoinOurTeam #wearriverstrust #Environmentaljob #suds

Some snaps from leaky dam installation at Hetton Bogs yesterday, as part of our Links with Nature project. The channel had become deeply incised; these structures aim to slow flow, trap silt, rebuild the bed, and reconnect the stream with its wet woodland floodplain.💧🌳🪵🔨  #SlowTheFlow

Wear Rivers Trust Staff and Volunteer

Using magnifying glasses to study and identify the freshwater invertebrate

Public engaging with Wear Rivers Trust stall

Wear Rivers Trust stall

Last weekend, we joined the Durham Regatta to raise awareness of invasive species and promote the Check, Clean, Dry method. 💧

We also kick sampled upstream, showcasing river invertebrates to the public and highlighting their role in monitoring river health. 🌿

#INNS #RiverHealth #WearRiversTrust

To all our current volunteers - thank you. Your time, effort and passion are helping to build a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations! 💙
#wearconserving #wearcatchment #wearriverstrust #volunteersweek2025 #VolunteersWeek #WorldEnvironmentDay

If you're passionate about environmental protection and want to contribute to measurable outcomes in river restoration, sign up to our volunteering platform below! 👇
wear-rivers-trust.teamkinetic.co.uk/index

Their efforts support improved ecological status, reduced microplastic loading, and healthier aquatic habitats, essential for a resilient river system! 🧪

At Wear Rivers Trust, we're using this week to recognise the significant role our volunteers play in mitigating these impacts! 💧Through a range of interventions, our volunteers have actively contributed to the removal of plastic waste from watercourses across the Wear catchment! 🚮

World Environment Day 2025! 🌍
Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent threats facing our water environments. Without significant action, it is estimated that by 2050 there could be more plastic in our oceans than fish! 🐟

#wearconserving #wearriverstrust #InvasiveSpeciesWeek #HimalayanBalsam #invasivespeciesmanagement #conservationscience #BiodiversityProtection #volunteerfornature

Originally from the western Himalayas, this plant has become highly invasive in the UK, particularly along riverbanks. With its rapid growth and explosive seed pods, Himalayan Balsam outcompetes native vegetation, disrupting local biodiversity and altering ecosystem dynamics. 💧

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) week has arrived! 🚨⚠️
Today, we're focusing on Himalayan Balsam! 🌿

To manage this invasive species, we host regular Balsam Bashing events throughout the Wear Catchment. These efforts focus on removing the plants before they set seed, preventing further spread.

Today Wear Rivers Trust held a Riverfly Training session, on the River Gaunless! 💧

We spent the day in the sunshine learning how to monitor river health by identifying freshwater invertebrates such as mayfly, Caddisfly and Stoneflies! 🪳

#riverfly #wearconserving #citizenscience

Will you help restore our #rivers this week? Collect data with @‌theriverstrust's #BigRiverWatch!

It's simple:

1⃣Download the free app

2⃣Visit your local river

3⃣Fill in a short survey about what you see

👉 theriverstrust.org/take-action/...

RiverFest 2025! 📣
Join Wear Rivers Trust for a FREE day of family fun, live music and all things rivers and nature! 💧
To secure your tickets, scan the QR code below or click the following link! 👇 www.tickettailor.com/events/wearr...

2 Bullheads in a monitoring tray

Bullhead on the bed of the River Wear

Large Bullhead in a monitoring tray

Wildlife Wednesdays! 🌿 Meet the European Bullhead (Cottus gobio), a unique fish found in the River Wear. 🐟 With their broad heads and wide fins, they thrive in fast, stony waters, feeding on invertebrates like Mayfly larvae. At Wear Rivers Trust, we’re working to protect these vital habitats! 💧

Wear Rivers Trust staff members!

Weardale!

Before and after picture, showcasing some of the work that we do in the Wear catchment!

Picture of our volunteers from a recent litter pick!

Happy Earth Day 2025! 🌍

Earth Day serves as an important reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, but at Wear Rivers Trust, our commitment to conserving and improving the health of our rivers extends far beyond a single day! 💙

#wearconserving #EarthDay2025 #riverwear

The River Wear

The Rivers Trust 'Big River Watch' app

Our rivers are in crisis! ⚠️

It is almost time for Big River Watch, which is running from April 25th-May 1st! 💧

With the @theriverstrust.bsky.social Big River Watch app, you can help identify issues and contribute to a national data set that will help us build a picture of river health! 🤳

Take a look at our staff and volunteers carrying out green bank protection on a stretch of the Hummerbeck, in West Auckland! 🌿
If only 3 hours of work really took 30 seconds! 💧
#wearcatchment #wearconserving #GreenEngineering #erosion #volunteers

Green Bank Protection! 🌿
On Tuesday, Wear Rivers Trust staff were accompanied by our volunteers to undertake green bank protection on a stretch of the Hummerbeck! 💧
This task was completed as part of our Hummerbeck and Lower Gaunless Bluespaces Project, funded by Northumbrian Water! 🌊

Wildlife Wednesdays! 🌿
We found otter footprints along the riverbank! 🐾 These creatures are hard to spot, so this was a special moment! 🦦
At Wear Rivers Trust, it is our mission to conserve our local waterways, ensuring they are safeguarded and thriving for the wildlife that depends on them! 💙

Yesterday, we were out on the Stanley Burn with our fantastic volunteers, repairing leaky dams as part of our SuDS+ Project! 💧
Leaky dams help to 'slow the flow', alleviating down-stream flooding, and having the added benefit of helping the channel to re-naturalise and creating new habitats. 🐟

Elvet Bridge Over The River Wear, Durham City.

#photography

Before and after pictures of work completed on a stretch of the riverbank, in order to stabilise and prevent further erosion.

Green Bank Protection! 🌿Today we headed to Herrington Burn, alongside @durhamwildlife.bsky.social and volunteers, to install green bank protection on a stretch of the burn! 💧We used an array of nature-based solutions, in order to stabilise the riverbank in order to prevent further erosion! 🪵

A very good morning from NE England, where at the moment the seasons seem to be changing every few minutes.

This morning's image is local, the weir on the River Wear with Prebends Bridge behind. The bridge dates from 1772.

#photooftheday #photographer

Fabulous! 👏