Our BLOG
Ribble Rivers Trust Blog
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Exciting News: Wetlands Are Coming to Jamie’s Farm!
We are delighted to announce that we have officially commenced a new project under our Ribble Revival: Room for Rivers program at Jamie’s Farm (Haugh Field Farm). With generous funding from Defra and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this marks our third initiative following the successful completion of the Holden Wetland and our fish pass…
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Press Release “Poor” Bathing Water Highlights Need For Change
Concerns have been raised over the “poor” water quality rating at Edisford Bridge, Clitheroe, the Ribble Catchment’s first designated river bathing water site. Despite achieving Bathing Water Status earlier this year, thanks to the application by Ribble Rivers Trust, the newly released classification underscores the urgent need for action. Action to tackle the causes of…
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Dedicate A Tree This Christmas
As winter’s chill sets in and the trees stand bare, the Ribble Rivers Trust is gearing up for one of the most exciting times of the year—tree planting season. From November through to March, we’ll be transforming landscapes across Lancashire, planting an incredible 60 hectares of woodland through our Lancashire Woodland Connect initiative. But to…
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Helping Hibernating Wildlife in Your Garden This Winter
Winter presents unique challenges for many of species. With temperatures dropping and food becoming scarcer, many animals rely on a remarkable adaptation to survive the colder months: hibernation. Many people think that hibernation is simply an extended nap- but hibernation is much more than that. It’s a finely tuned state where animals slow their metabolism,…
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Nurture Nature: Grow a Native Tree from Seed in Your Garden
Have you ever wondered how you can grow a native tree from a seed? It’s a simple and rewarding activity, perfect for nature lovers and garden enthusiasts alike. Plus, rivers and trees are the perfect match, which is why we want to see as many trees in our catchment as possible! Follow these easy steps,…
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Blackburn’s Farm; Wetlands, water, and wildflowers
For the latest project in our Room For Rivers programme, we’re working with Blackburn’s Farm to create a new conservation area to support habitats for amphibians, invertebrates, and a rich variety of grassland and wetland species. Our project will establish a diverse wet grassland area complete with ponds, scrapes, and a new hedgerow to provide…
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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…
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The salmon run; an epic upstream journey
Salmon are some of the most iconic creatures in our rivers, and every year they provide one of nature’s greatest spectacles- the salmon run. This awe-inspiring annual migration sees Atlantic salmon return from the ocean to the rivers where they were born, overcoming immense challenges to complete their lifecycle. The salmon run begins with a…
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Breaking Barriers: the new Bezza Brook Fish Pass
Our latest fish passage project is almost complete! Working alongside our contractor, Wade Group, Ribble Rivers Trust’s river conservation specialists have been working on Bezza Brook fish pass, the latest in a long line of weir removals and fish passes. For this project, the tidal zone of the Ribble catchment is the focus, ensuring migratory…
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Natural Flood Management Data; the science behind the projects
Data and evidence play a huge role in our work here at Ribble Rivers Trust. If you’ve been following our river conservation efforts, you’ll likely have heard us talk about the importance of collecting and analysing data. But have you ever wondered what this data collection actually looks like? Earlier this year, Ribble Rivers Trust…
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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…
