West Cumbria Rivers Trust

Farmers urgently need government support to restore rivers and make #SpaceForWater, which will create wildlife habitat, clean our waters, and protect communities from flood and drought. We've nearly reached our goal of 10,000 signatures. Help us get there:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...

WCRT's current Trustees on a site visit

Make a real impact on rivers and wildlife! We’re looking for trustees with a passion for conservation, especially those with commercial, legal, or community/education experience. Find out more ￫ www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/news/new-tru...

In-channel boulders are a feature of natural unmodified rivers providing fantastic habitat for wildlife

Full view of the river reconnected to its floodplain

Close up of the river reconnecting with its floodplain

Before/After revetment removal

1km of river restoration on the River Ehen this summer! Revetments removed, boulders added, floodplains reconnected. More resilient habitat for freshwater mussels, Atlantic salmon & other wildlife. Thanks to Environment Agency, United Utilities, Wild Ennerdale, Natural England.

Something exciting is taking shape on Derwent Water 👀 We’re working with the National Trust & artist Daniel Weatheritt on a new sculpture project – part of a bigger WCRT Watery Walk coming soon. Our Youth Panel’s been helping dream it up… watch this space!

Tackling Japanese Knotweed at its source 🌱 With Environment Agency permission we’re using a water-safe, targeted herbicide (blue dye shows treated areas). This invasive INNS spreads fast and can damage riverbanks – careful, timely management protects our rivers.

A wild first week for our apprentices! 🌿 From peat probes on the Thirlmere fells ⛰️ to moss ID at Glasson Moss 🌱, a Bioblitz at Walkmill 🪰, and bat boxes at Westogether 🦇 – they’ve been busy learning, surveying and scything their way into conservation life! 💪

Is that a stuffed toy in the owl box in the tree!?

No it's a real Tawny Owl keeping incredibly still and keeping an eye on us!

At Longlands Lake we thought a teddy bear was wedged in an owl box… until a Tawny Owl flew out! 🦉 Huge thanks to Robert Stephenson, whose species-tailored boxes are already proving a hit on the west coast. Got one at home? Share your owl pics!

Members of the Youth Panel

🌿 14–18? Join our Youth Panel & be a voice for Cumbria’s rivers & lakes! Tree planting, creative workshops, leadership meetings – make an impact & learn new skills. 📩 info@westcumbriariverstrust.org

It’s time for urgent action to safeguard the Lake District’s rivers for nature, people & future generations – and to back the farmers who want to be part of the solution.

Read more 👉 www.cnp.org.uk/wp-content/u...

#LakeDistrict #ProtectOurRivers

The report calls for:
✅ Upgrading sewage works in National Parks
✅ Stronger action on farm pollution with real financial support for farmers
✅ Tougher legal water targets for National Parks

Farmers are crucial allies in protecting rivers. Many want to work with nature – but funding cuts mean they’re left with little support. Closure of SFI24 has left businesses in limbo, with few incentives for biodiversity, soil health or water quality.

Main reasons for failure?
🌾 Agriculture & rural land management: 47.6%
🚰 Water industry (sewage infrastructure): 28.6%

These rivers should be among the cleanest in the country. Instead, they’re being failed by weak protections.

Image of a branch with a watercourse in the background

🚨 New research shows the Lake District’s rivers are in trouble.
42% fail legal ecological standards. In 2024 alone, sewage spilled for 25,800+ hours – 573 hrs per overflow, more than double the national average.

#ProtectOurRivers #LakeDistrict

🤝 Last week saw the first Cumbria-wide meet-up of trustees & CEOs from WCRT, @EdenRiversTrust, @SCRiversTrust & @LuneRiversTrust. Site visit at Bowberhead, then pies & big chats at the Fat Lamb. Such a success we’ll now meet every 6 months! #RiversTrusts #PartnershipWorking

A WCRT staff member looks out over a river

💧 Our #rivers are in crisis – polluted, overheated & stripped of natural features. We’ve hit 7.5k petition signatures but need 10k for a govt response. Add your name & help restore our rivers: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...

Fishy business on the River Calder 🐟
We recently carried out a fish rescue on the River Calder, carefully moving fish to safety before work begins at a construction site. This was delivered as part of our consultancy services – Find out more here: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/consultancy

🌿 Last week’s herbal leys farm walk was a hit! Thanks to James Bretherton (AgScope), Richard Henderson & Liz’s Country Kitchens for the tips, demos & tasty treats. Great insights for anyone managing grassland on how to reduce input costs, boost soil health & increase yields.

Aerial view showing the ponds

Close up of the ponds

🌿 We’ve made new wildlife ponds at High Leys Meadow Ponds & Wetlands, Loweswater!
These three new ponds will create diverse habitats and enhance the wetland. Thanks to FiPL for funding & Tom Lindsey for the works! 🐸🦆

Making Space for Water We’re calling on the UK government to make #SpaceForWater by urgently supporting farmers and landowners to create and maintain a network of nature-rich river corridors.

✍️ Please sign the petition to restore funding and protect our rivers: www.makingspaceforwater.com

Look North (North East and Cumbria) - Evening News: 11/09/2025 The latest news, sport and weather for the North East and Cumbria.

But this isn’t just Cumbria – across the country, river restoration funding has been gutted.

📺 Watch from 05:43 (until 7pm tonight): www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

CRRP isn’t just any programme – it’s the most awarded of all:
🏆 5 UK River Prizes
🌍 Current European River Prize
🎥 Finalist in the Thiess International River Prize (the ‘Oscars of the environment’).

Obligations to improve rivers aren’t being met. Environment Agency staff are as constrained as charities like ours, unable to deliver the river & habitat improvements that are urgently needed.

Last night our AD Luke Bryant spoke on BBC Look North about the devastating cuts to river restoration funding.

💧 Gov support has been slashed by 96% for our work & 87% for the Cumbria River Restoration Programme.

Making Space for Water Modified, polluted, and unable to keep pace with our changing climate, our damaged rivers need space to recover. Get behind the campaign, add your name to…

💧 Healthy rivers slow the flow, cut flood risk, store carbon & connect people with nature. Sign the petition to call for proper investment in river restoration: theriverstrust.org/making-space-for-water

Cumbria’s rivers need us. 83% of rivers in the Lake District are severely modified & only 1% of floodplains are healthy wetlands. Cuts have slashed funding by 96% for our trust – the future of river restoration is at risk. #RiverRestoration #HealthyRivers

We’re proud to have been finalists for Thiess International River Prize – the Oscars of the environment – with our brilliant partners @edenriverstrust @southcumbriariverstrust Ullswater Catchment CIC, @nationaltrust.org.uk The Environment Agency @naturalengland & @defrauk - it's a huge accolade!

Intern Caitlin

Thank you note

Our other Intern Bing with volunteers electrofishing in the river

This summer we welcomed two Lancaster Uni interns for 3 weeks of hands-on conservation 🌿 They helped with electrofishing, balsam bashing & data work, and we got the most lovely thank-you card! Huge thanks & best of luck in your next adventures! #Conservation #Volunteers

This summer, over 1,000 volunteer hours went into balsam bashing across 93 hectares. At most sites we’ve now reached the furthest ever extents - making an impact at the source of our headwater sites. 🌿 It's a big challenge but we're not afraid to chip away until the Derwent catchment is HB free!

Be River Friendly - Make simple changes - they don't have to cost the Earth — West Cumbria Rivers Trust If you want to do more to help your rivers and your natural environment, there are simple changes you can make in your day-to-day life which - if many of us do - will make a huge difference.

Tips: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/river-friendly

♻️ Zero Waste Week: it doesn’t start at the bin. Reuse, repurpose, repair – recycle last. Only 9% of plastic ever made has been recycled, and UK homes bin 1.7B pieces of plastic every week. Small swaps = big impact. 💡Tips: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/river-friendly