Our BLOG
Ribble Rivers Trust Blog
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Fish monitoring: A PARRticularly dry summer
Our fish monitoring team surveyed 294 sites between June and October! Our surveys are carried out to monitor fish numbers, particularly salmonids, looking for the young of year. This helps us to gauge the health of our rivers. It also means we can look for the areas which are doing well, and the areas which…
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OUR douglas; working on Wigan’s rivers
The River Douglas is in a poor state and fails to meet “Good Ecological Status”. A major reason for this is the area’s industrial heritage, specifically weirs. Most of them no longer serve a purpose, and actually cause issues for wildlife, so we’re working to remove them with 6 of 8 major barriers already gone!
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Tree seeds, fruits, or nuts?
If you’re anything like us you’ve probably noticed that trees across the country are brimming with fruits, nuts, and seeds. But have you ever wondered what makes a seed a seed, or if nuts and fruit are seeds too? It is really easy to get confused, so we’ll start with the basics. Read more>>
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CaST off- new woodlands for water
Ribble Rivers Trust has begun a project to plant more than 11,000 new trees in Lancashire with the aim of improving water quality. Ribble Rivers Trust has been funded by United Utilities to create new woodlands at Sabden, Samlesbury, and the Forest of Bowland as part of the company’s innovative Catchment Systems Thinking (CaST) approach…
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Water saving tips to beat the heat
Water saving doesn’t have to mean dodging the shower, smelly socks, and wilting plants. There are lots of super easy ways we can cut down on water consumption around the house. Every drop saved means a little less stress on our water supplies. Plus, it’ll reduce your carbon footprint and your water bills! Water saving…
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Peel Park & the Coppice: Consultation Results
Our consultation has now ended, and we’ve collected and collated the results of the surveys. We’d like to thank everyone that took part in the survey and helped to shape the future of this area. You can find out more about the project by clicking here. Consultation Results One of the conservation plans for the…
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Bowker MINI Centres Volunteer Staff Time for River Ribble Conservation
Two Lancashire car dealerships have pledged staff time to help with conservation improvements on the River Ribble and its associated tributaries. Bowker MINI on Preston Docks and Trident Park in Blackburn will volunteer staff time to The Ribble Rivers Trust from August. The centres will also invite MINI owners to join them in volunteering activities.…
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Langden gravels supporting spawning salmon
Langden Brook is one of the not so hidden gems in the Ribble catchment. A tributary of the River Hodder, this area is one of the few remaining strongholds for salmon. It is also an important part of our drinking water infrastructure. As part of the Stocks Reservoir network of watercourses and abstraction points, Langden…
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Citizen science; the people behind the data
Citizen science is a really important part of our work. Like all of our volunteers, these specially trained groups include people from a wide range of backgrounds who all share one thing in common- a passion for nature and the outdoors. Together, they take part in training courses and events, learn about the natural world…
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Make a (safe!) splash this weekend
Here in Lancashire, we’re pretty lucky when it comes to access to outdoor spaces. Although we get to enjoy these places all year round (for free!), our rivers, lakes, parks, and gardens really come to life when the sun is shining. As a charity working to improve and promote the waters of the Ribble catchment,…
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Kickstarting careers in River Conservation
Three young people are beginning careers in conservation after successfully completing their Kickstart training with Ribble Rivers Trust. David Bevis, Bethany Ryan and Jay Malpas all aspired to careers in conservation but found opportunities few and far between. However, they were recruited by RRT under the government’s Kickstart scheme, launched in response to an expected…
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Keeping wildlife cool; 5 tips for the summer
The hot weather is here! Whether you love to bask in the sunshine, chill out with an ice cream, or stay indoors and keep cool, we know how to look after ourselves in the hot weather. However, our furry, feathered, and many legged friends need to keep cool too. A few small changes can give…
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Natural flood management: working with nature to protect our communities
Natural flood management (NFM) is a flood risk management strategy that uses natural water processes to try and reduce flood risk. When used alone it can have a significant impact on areas that are prone to less serious flooding. It is also very handy for protecting areas where, when flooding does happen, it doesn’t have…
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Peel Park and the Coppice Local Nature Reserve Public Consultation
There are some exciting improvements underway in the next phase of work at Peel Park and the Coppice Local Nature Reserve in Accrington. Ribble Rivers Trust, Hyndburn Council and the Prospects Foundation have teamed up to deliver further work at the site. In 2018 the local council thrilled local residents by purchasing area known as…
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World Oceans Day: our connected rivers and seas
From the deepest depths of the ocean to tiny tinkling brooks, all of our streams, rivers, and seas are connected. But did you know this goes even further? How often do you think about the gleaming blue waters of our coastline whilst you watch rain run down a roadside into a road drain? Or think…
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Safe to Splash campaign to ensure Edisford’s water is safe for all.
Ribble Rivers Trust have launched their exciting new Safe to Splash campaign which aims to secure bathing water status for a local paddling hotspot on River Ribble at Edisford Bridge, Clitheroe. The launch of the campaign for Bathing Water Status is a way of improving water quality for local wildlife and human communities. This campaign…
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Nature; a natural mental health boost
Our mental and physical health have never been more important, with many of us still feeling the mental, as well as physical, impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that almost 21% of adults were experiencing depression when surveyed in 2021. This is almost double the pre-pandemic figure. Almost…
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Grow Back Greener
An exciting new partnership to deliver new woodlands across Lancashire. Ribble Rivers Trust are happy to be announcing a partnership with Woodland Trust which will see new native woodlands created across Lancashire. The exciting new partnership will support the Northern Forest ‘Grow Back Greener’ tree planting programme managed by the Woodland Trust. A programme that…
