Boggy landscapes and healthy, messy rivers

It's no secret: We like our rivers messy, full of gravel, woody debris, supported by wetlands and marshes. This summer season, our delivery work is?doing just that (and more). Casting the spotlight on our river restoration and nature-based solutions team, we’re sharing several exciting initiatives that help improve the ecological health of our rivers and reduce flood risk.??

With a 1.5km stretch of river restoration on the Trent underway near Weston, a just-complete natural flood management project near the Staffordshire village of Endon and more exciting work to come near Whissendine and Loughborough’s Outwoods, it’s safe to say that we have a busy summer ahead.

A common denominator across all projects is the need to create space for water. Working in the landscape, we’re creating additional storage by creating new wetland areas and various other measures to slow the flow. In and around the river, we’re enhancing the connection between the river and its floodplain, creating more space for the river to spill into during high flows.??

Each of these projects has a distinct aim, our floodplain reconnection work aims to create new habitat, and our natural flood management work is placed strategically to intercept flow paths, reducing and delaying peak flows.??

Their wider benefits, however, shine beyond. Natural flood management often creates vital habitat and settles out pollution. Floodplain reconnection creates storage space for water and restores vital habitat. Our work on floodplain reconnection in the Trent even comes with a heritage benefit, as a water meadow, which has largely disappeared from our riverscapes, now returns historic land management practices to the Trent catchment.??

How you can get involved

Take Five Actions for rivers this summer

As ever, there are plenty of ways in which you can get involved at Trent Rivers Trust. Right now, we’re running a summer campaign, encouraging YOU to take five actions for your river this summer.??

Keeping it simple, choose from a list of actions, ranging from going for a bike ride, checking your river for pollution, learning about wildlife or going pond dipping. The idea is to connect to your river and invest in your and your rivers wellbeing.??

Save the date and tell your friends, colleagues and family?

Can we count you in??

The Big River Watch is back on! On the 6th-12th September, thousands of citizen scientists across the UK and Ireland will add a snapshot of their river’s health. The data contributes to a national data set that will help drive change at a national level and start conversations about river health locally.?

Last year, over 650 citizen scientists surveyed rivers here in the Trent catchment.??

• 162 people spotted ducks?

• 92 saw fish??

• 1 spotted an otter?

The most common sign of pollution spotted include:?

• 88 documented silt pollution?

• 62 noted pollution from livestock?

• 28 reported algal pollution??

• Sewage was logged on 15 occasions?

What will you spot this year???

Save the date and make sure your stretch of river is included in the Big River Watch!?

Volunteer with us

Based in or near South Derbyshire District Council, or North West Leicestershire District Council?

Help us restore the river Mease and its tributaries with hands-on work along the river. We're looking for volunteers over the autumn/winter period along the River Mease. Please email [email protected] for further information.