This campaign has now closed

The aim is to improve the River Eden and its tributaries for wildlife. This will be achieved by carrying out habitat restoration projects such as fencing and tree planting, monitoring the wildlife and the effects of our habitat restoration work, providing advice to farmers on nutrient use on their land, and raising awareness of the interest and importance of this beautiful river system.

100%
Categories

  • Animals Animals
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Environment/Conservation Environment/​Conservation
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other

    Situation

    Our habitat restoration work is based on sound scientific research so that we can target resources to where they will achieve maximum benefits. Catchment-scale environmental modelling, connectivity modelling and ecological assessment have been used to develop a GIS-based tool which links habitat and ecological condition with the management of the riparian zone and the wider ecosystem functioning (see www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk/projects/utdr/appx/appx_46_rare.pdf ; www.scimap.org.uk and www.edenriverstrust.org.uk/electro-fishing). From this we have produced conservation plans for five key areas within the River Eden catchment. The Restoring Eden project aims to implement these 5 sub-catchment plans over the next three years (2008 - 2011). Three plans are for sub-catchments which have been found to have the most degraded habitat on the Eden. The fourth sub-catchment plan is for an ‘average’ tributary in terms of habitat quality and salmonid densities. The fifth sub-catchment plan is a dispersed plan based around wild trout which have a depleted population in the Eden and are now a priority species in the UKBAP. Our aim is to improve all sub-catchments so that they are providing maximum benefits for biodiversity. We will monitor the effects of our habitat improvement work in the tributary of moderate condition and compared it to the other degraded sub-catchments. The project also incorporates a water vole project on the River Eden. This has already resulted in a re-introduction to one site, and a re-colonisation in two areas from the Tyne catchment, probably as a result of the mink control undertaken as part of the project . The following BAP priority habitats and species will benefit from the project:- Rivers and Streams, white-clawed crayfish, water vole, brown trout, Atlantic salmon, eel, river and sea lamprey. The River Eden is designated as a whole river SAC and a SSSI for the above species (except eel and trout), as well as for otter, bullhead, brook lamprey, breeding birds associated with upland waters, exposed river sediment invertebrates and Ranunculus spp. All these species will benefit from the Restoring Eden project. The project will also deliver a Programme of Measures for waterbodies failing 'Good Ecological Status' under the Water Framework Directive.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Animals Animals
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Environment/Conservation Environment/​Conservation
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other