Cumbria River Restoration Partnership Programme - European Riverprize winners 2022

An ambitious programme to restore and improve rivers in the Lake District beat competition from across Europe to win the prestigious European Riverprize 2022.
The award was in recognition of efforts across Cumbria to reinstate natural river processes that benefit both people and wildlife.
The Cumbrian River Restoration partnership programme has improved almost 100km of river length and restored over 150 hectares of floodplain across the catchments of the Rivers Eden, Derwent and Kent. It has also reduced flood risk, removed plastic from rivers and boosted biodiversity in the region.
Partners on the project include the Environment Agency, Natural England, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Eden Rivers Trust, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, the RSPB, United Utilities, the National Trust, Ullswater CIC, Salford University, Dynamic Rivers and Ebsford Environmental.
The rivers of the Lake District have been impacted by changing patterns of farming and land management over many centuries. All the watercourses within Cumbria have at some point been modified or altered to create space for farming practices.
This has exacerbated the effects of several severe flood events in recent years, with the area also suffering degradation of designated protected areas and a severe decline in biodiversity.
The Cumbria River Restoration partnerships programme has carried out more than 100 separate projects including reintroducing meanders, removing weirs and planting trees.
Practical work was also accompanied by engagement, training and educational initiatives including community events, volunteer days, internal and external training, conference and workshop presentations. 
First awarded in 2013, the European Riverprize celebrates excellence in the management, conservation and development of Europe’s rivers, wetlands and surrounding communities. Historically, the prize is award in conjunction with the International River Symposium, which attracts an audience of Europe’s leading advocates for environment and river protection, including the European Commissioner for Environment.
In 2022, the European Riverprize was awarded during the Gala Dinner of the 25th International River Symposium in Vienna.
The other two finalists were a campaign to save one of Europe’s last wild rivers, the Vjosa in Albania, and a project covering the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers in central Europe.

[@RussTillling]

Great video! Should have way more likes & comments!😢

[@wildhaweswater5622]

Thank you v much. We agree :) - Annabel

[@jwornell2114]

amazing video and job!

[@mikemellor759]

Great video on overall scheme - I’d love to learn more about some of the major projects.

[@wildhaweswater5622]

Thanks Mike, really glad you like it. The individual organisations have more on their individual projects. You can find out more about our work in Swindale here: bit.ly/UKRiverPrizeWinner22 - Annabel

[@daniellemurphy9755]

Bring the bloody BEAVERS back!!!!!!

[@wildhaweswater5622]

That's the vision for Haweswater and other parts of Cumbria. Find out more here: bit.ly/HWRVision - Annabel

[@yyyfffff33333]

Expect less flooding downriver !

[@grantmccoy6739]

I wonder why they got rid of that weir. It looks like they excavated some streams, and made some ponds/watersheds. Not a whole lot needed to be done though, I imagine. It's really beautiful.

[@wildhaweswater5622]

With artificial structures like weirs and embankments, they affect the rivers ability to function naturally, so their removal helps to put the natural course and features back into the channel, improving it for wildlife (for example fish passage). - Annabel

[@VIGOUROSO2024]

Don't EAT the Foxgloves! 🦊🧤🥀

[@bloggalot4718]

What has been the benefits please?

[@wildhaweswater5622]

Hiya, thanks for the question. It depends on the project. Some have been about removing large amounts of plastic from river systems to benefit the wildlife. Some have been about removing artificial features such as weirs or embankments, and putting natural bends back into straightened courses - these have multiple benefits for wildlife, reducing flood risk and improving drinking water. More information on our project in Swindale here: bit.ly/UKRiverPrizeWinner22 - Annabel

[@bloggalot4718]

Thank you.

[@peterhicks3516]

and, to think, that BEAVER, left unattended, would do most of the river work for free.

[@wildhaweswater5622]

They would indeed. Hopefully more of them to come in future. - Annabel

[@grantmccoy6739]

I would think so. In places like this, not a whole lot needs to be done with heavy machinery. It does more harm than good, it would seem.

[@RussTillling]

There are hardly any trees for them to create dams, or use for food, so not suitable for beavers currently. Once a volume of trees have been planted and have matured, then beavers would be more likely to be a success.

[@ruskinyruskiny1611]

"Traditional farming" is the problem. Green New Deal where locals get to stay where they are with a good income but not destroying the wild is the answer.

[@deanfowles3707]

But doing that is communismizms or summin , and we can’t do that because Alan sugar said we shouldn’t do it.

[@deanfowles3707]

My fear is that climate change will just make shlte of all these efforts

[@wildhaweswater5622]

Hi Dean, a lot of these measures are about making these habitats more resilient to climate change, so whilst individually they can't stop them, it will help buffer against it. They are all also measures that can be replicated elsewhere to help mitigate the impact. - Annabel

[@deanfowles3707]

@@wildhaweswater5622 personally having dedicated a lot is time to researching all of this I think we’re gonna need Solar geoengineering if we’re to stand and Fgking chance And yes I do mean the big bad stratospheric aerosol injection. That’s just me, not a popular opinion for a nature lover I know.

[@deersbrook4485]

Keep drinking the climate change cool aid!​@deanfowles3707