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Ribble Rivers Trust Blog
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The RiverBlitz; ranking river robustness!
In October, we held our first official ‘River Blitz’ as part of the Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) project. This project sees the Rivers Trust working alongside Ofwat to implement a national, standardised approach to water quality monitoring through citizen science by testing methodology and data management with 10 local Rivers Trusts across England.
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Water + Wellness; boosting wellbeing in Lancashire primary schools
With thanks to a grant from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, our Education and Engagement Officer has been able to create a brand new education programme for Lancashire primary schools. Each school taking part receives one session per half term- that’s six sessions in total for each school over the year. Water + Wellness mirrors…
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Peel Park & the Coppice- Paths & Bridges
Earlier this year we ran a consultation and asked you for your opinions on how Pleck Meadows should be managed. Lots of you shared your thoughts and opinions, helping us to create a management plan and shape the future of this site. Now, work is being carried out on the footpaths, and the wider Pleck…
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Another day, another fish pass!
Pottery Terrace is one of eight fish passes that are being created by Ribble Rivers Trust as part of the Our Douglas project. Pottery Terrace Weir lies in a walled and concrete lined channel. It’s not clear when the weir was created, but it appears on maps as far back as 1909. After over 100…
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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…
