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Ribble Rivers Trust Blog
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Community Catchments; Empowering People, Improving Resilience
The Ribble Rivers Trust has launched a new project aimed at tackling flooding in three Lancashire towns through community-led natural flood management. The “Community Catchments” initiative will work closely with residents, businesses, and landowners in Wrea Green, Darwen, and Clitheroe, empowering them to protect their homes and livelihoods while enhancing the natural environment. Building on…
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Holden Wetland: a thriving space for wildlife and water
Earlier this year, we announced the Ribble Rivers Trust, alongside other conservation projects, received grants from the Species Survival Fund with the aim to enable the restoration of over 3,300 hectares of critical habitat. Our grant supports the Ribble Revival: Room for Rivers programme which is set to rejuvenate the Ribble catchment, by targeting strategic…
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Get hooked on fishing this summer holidays!
Now that the summer holidays are upon us, there’s no better time to get out of the house and take the kids fishing- who knows, you might get hooked! Why go fishing? First off, fishing is fun. There is nothing better than heading off to the river on a sunny day with fishing rod, a…
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Drinking water and rivers; protecting our natural resources
The UK water industry treats over 15,000 million litres of water a day, which supplies to almost every household. The UK’s water conforms to some of the strictest levels in the world, and our drinking water comes from many locations including rivers, groundwater aquifers, and reservoirs. It is then some pretty intensive treatment to control…
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Sunshine, streams…. and shade?
Rivers are the lifeblood of our ecosystems, supporting a huge range of wildlife species. However, these ecosystems are delicate, and even small changes in river conditions can have significant impact on this balancing act. One factor that is often overlooked is the role of shade providing river woodlands in regulating water temperature, which is essential…
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Bathing Water Designation Secured for Edisford Bridge
Ribble Valley residents have been granted their very own designated Bathing Water site thanks to the Ribble Rivers Trust’s Safe to Splash campaign. Following an extensive application and consultation process, Defra have today announced that Ribble Rivers Trust’s application to designate Edisford Bridge, Clitheroe as a bathing water under the Bathing Water Regulations has been…
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Partnership paves new way for Primrose Nature Reserve
Primrose Community Nature Trust and Ribble Rivers Trust have announced a new partnership that will continue the conservation and stewardship of Clitheroe’s Primrose Nature Reserve. This new collaboration will oversee the maintenance of the 16 acre site, aiming to ensure its long-term protection and preservation. Through the agreement, Ribble Rivers Trust will provide additional support…
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Rooting for Change: Plastic-Free Woodlands
All through this week we’re celebrating Earth Day, an annual awareness day which focuses on a specific environmental issue every year; this year’s theme is Planet vs. Plastic. Even though we spend countless hours cleaning up our rivers and picking up plastic, we know that sometimes, it’s unavoidable. However, now we’re fighting back against single…
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Outdoor Education; Inspiring the next generation of River Heroes
Young people are the river guardians of the future. That’s why, each year, we work with hundreds of local primary school pupils through our outdoor education projects to help spark a lifelong love of rivers. To do this, we use a mix of national curriculum approved classroom activities and fun outdoor sessions involving tree planting,…
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Bringing nature home: wildlife ponds
Ponds are amazing spaces for wildlife, supporting a wide range of species and providing homes for some really special creatures. Yet numbers have seen a big decline in recent years, partly due to our quest for neater gardens, but also so that land can be utilised for agriculture and development. However, we want ponds to…
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World Water Day 2024: Remarkable Rivers
For centuries, rivers have been a key part of human life. From helping our ancestors choose strategic locations for settlements, to revolutionising industrial processes, and helping us produce the food and water we need to survive. Of course, rivers are still influencing our lives here in the UK as a key part of our drinking…
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Species Survival Fund to Make Room For Rivers
Twenty conservation projects species are to benefit from the government’s Species Survival Fund. Including Ribble Rivers Trust, who will receive a grant for £1.65 million. The £25 million fund aims to enable the restoration of over 3,300 hectares of critical habitats. Wildlife charities, farmers, and community groups will all recieve grants for their projects. Each…
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Bathing Water Designation to Ensure Ribble Valley River is ‘Safe to Splash’
Ribble Valley residents are one step closer to the designation of their very own Bathing Water site thanks to the Ribble Rivers Trust’s Safe to Splash campaign. In an announcement this week the Government shared plans to designate the largest ever number of new bathing water sites. In total there are 27 new sites that…
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Community Catchments: Empowering People, Fighting Floods
Rivers across Lancashire and North Yorkshire are receiving a very welcome boost thanks to funding from the Defra £25m Natural Flood Management Fund, which is managed by the Environment Agency. Ribble Rivers Trust, who will be managing the project alongside various partners including Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Heidelberg Materials, and Downham Estate, have been…
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The secret world of rivers: what do healthy rivers look like?
River pollution is hitting the headlines once again. Whilst some river problems provide obvious signs, like visible litter and the smell of sewage, it’s not always easy to tell what healthy rivers look like in comparison to those tainted by pollution. As we already know, rivers are very complex systems that are heavily influenced by…
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Delivering Farm Advice in Lancashire and North Yorkshire
Farming is such an important part of our heritage especially here, in the Ribble catchment, where most of our land is utilised for agriculture and food production. It’s also an important part of our local and national heritage. Over many centuries farming has shaped the landscape that we know and love today. From the rolling…
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Growing Lancashire’s Future: Tree Nurseries Promise New Trees For Lancashire
In a move towards greater sustainability, Ribble Rivers Trust are proud to announce the establishment of another groundbreaking community tree nursery at Grange Community Gardens in Preston. This innovative initiative is designed to transform Lancashire’s landscape whilst engaging the community to secure a greener future for Lancashire’s woodlands. Currently, the majority of the tens of thousands of trees…
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Rivers and trees; nature’s dream team
In the rolling landscapes of Lancashire, where the countryside meets the water, there are hundreds of miles of riverside woodland. This unassuming habitat offers more than just a pretty view, it plays a vital role in addressing climate change and biodiversity concerns. So, let’s explore river woodlands and we’ll tell you why they are a…
