introduction
to the westcountry rivers trust
The Westcountry Rivers Trust
is an independent charitable organisation established in 1994 to
protect and enhance the region’s rivers and streams through
working with landowners and the wider community and through education.
The Trust raises funds for specific
river projects and then concentrates on creating practical improvements
and enlightening attitudes towards river restoration.
The Westcountry Rivers Trust through its work aims to:
1. Improve
summer flows and reduce flooding.
2. Improve water quality and
wildlife habitats.
3. Increase the wildlife found
in the region’s rivers and wetlands.
4. Educate people of all ages
and professions on the vital importance of adopting river-friendly
practices.
Reducing Soil Erosion
The Trust tackles erosion by
cattle and sheep by identifying vulnerable stretches of river bank
and providing grant aid to farmers for fencing and advice on appropriate
stock management.
Salmon Spawning Boxes
In some areas salmon spawning
boxes can be installed as a temporary measure to improve fish stocks
in the river while natural spawning beds recover during river restoration
activities.
Conserving and Restoring
Wetlands
The Trust takes a long-term approach
to improving summer flows and reducing flooding on rivers. It does
this by working with landowners and increasing awareness of the
role that soils and wetlands play in stabilising flows.
The Trust aims to increase the
area of wetlands in the river catchments where work is being undertaken.
This is done to help improve summer flows and water quality in a
way that is sustainable, and will continue in the long term.
Coppicing
In places along riverbanks the
Trust reinstates the ancient practice of coppicing to achieve desirable
levels of shading on the rivers or streams.
Too much shading leads to loss
of bankside vegetation and too little shading leads to high water
temperatures.
For more information on the Rivers Trust
and its projects have a look at the Power Point Presentation.
click on the icon below to open
the presentation
Introduction to the Cornwall
Rivers Project
The Cornwall Rivers Project is
initially targeted on ten river catchments in the county.
click here
to visit the Cornwall Rivers Project website
For more information on each of
these rivers click here
’10 Cornish Rivers’
- The Project gives grant assistance and
free and confidential advice to farmers and landowners about
their farm, river or stream.
- ‘Integrated River Basin Resource
Management Plans’ highlighting opportunities for economic
and environmental benefit are produced for individual farmers
and landowners free of charge.
- The Trust gives free advice on fisheries
management and tourism opportunities.
- The Trust deals with grants for environmental
and water quality improvements, including fencing along
waterways.
- The Trust can put farmers and landowners
in touch with other organisations and schemes that might
be able to offer assistance.
- Angling 2000 is a scheme that markets
fishing beats in Cornwall and Devon.
You can find more information
on Angling 2000 in section B05a
Westcountry
Rivers Trust
Fore Street
Lifton
Devon
PL16 0AA
Tel:
01566 784488
email:
wrt@wrt.org.uk |
