Hello and welcome to our last newsletter of 2020.
What a year it has been - we hope you are all still keeping well.
Despite all the unexpected challenges in 2020, here at Westcountry Rivers Trust we have adapted, developed and found new ways to continue bringing our region's rivers to life such as through our online community events.
Read on to find out more.
We'd like to thank our trustees, volunteers, partners and advocates for their continued support - thank you one and all - and to wish you a safe and happy festive time.
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Do you love Derril?
If you are signed up to our newsletter, you'll already know how important our rivers and waterways are.
But one river in Devon in need of some extra TLC is the Derril Water. Rising to the north of Pyworthy village and then flowing south to join the River Tamar just upstream of North Tamerton, this river could do with some help.
Find out how you can make a positive difference at:
wrt.org.uk/lets-show-derril-some-love/
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It has certainly been an unusual year to make a start on our
Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) project.
But not deterred by our new ways of working, our PPP team began by mapping the potential sources of where plastic (micro and macro) could get into the
Tamar catchment waterways.
Read more about the Tamar PPP project work at:
wrt.org.uk/project/preventing-plastic-pollution-ppp/
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Keybridge Weir removal a success.
What a great end to the year - our Fisheries and River Ops teams, working under the ERDF-funded Water for Growth partnership, have been working along the river Camel to make sure salmon and trout can swim it successfully.
Find out how the removal of a century-old weir will make a positive difference.
Full story at: wrt.org.uk/keybridge-weir-removal/
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Read our latest Tamar Water Stewardship Business Board (TWSBB) blog
Julie Finch, (pictured above), Agriculture Governance & Compliance Manager with Kepak, tells us about the importance of sustainability and why they support the TWSBB.
"Water quality and the effective use of our natural resources sits within our Kepak CORE approach and being part of this collaboration means we are able to help support positive change throughout our supply chain."
Visit: wrt.org.uk/the-kepak-interview/ for the full story and to find out how your business could get involved.
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A positive to take from the pandemic situation has been the appreciation more people have found for being close to nature from wide-open countryside to plants on a balcony
The growth this year in our Westcountry CSI volunteer numbers - 152 new CSIers - may, in part, relate to this. Despite all the restrictions, our citizen scientists safely conducted 994 surveys - thank you.
Becoming a citizen scientist with us provides you with wonderful way to get outdoors and immersed in nature as you monitor your local water courses.
The data collected helps us to understand the state of our rivers and make plans to protect and restore them.
But don't just take our word for it. Watch and listen to Anna as she shares her story about why being a citizen scientist with us is important to her, personally and for water and wildlife.
The North Devon AONB is also funding us to recruit citizen scientists to monitor the North Devon coastal streams.
Do get in touch via csi@wrt.org.uk to chat about CSI opportunities or visit
wrt.org.uk/project/become-a-citizen-scientist/ .
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It's "farewell, but not goodbye" for our SPONGE 2020 project.
Read the last update after 4 years of great collaboration: Sponge 2020 newsletter.
Here's to more innovative climate change solutions such as our SuDS work in Somerset.
Visit urbangreenbluegrids.com/sponge/about/ for further information.
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Our Plymouth River Keepers project is building traction in north west Plymouth to ensure it helps restore and protect the local streams.
Most recently, we held a festive, online drop-in to share updates and a virtual mince pie, while our Fisheries and Rivers team have started surveying to identify areas for habitat management that will improve the streams for wildlife and to make the pathways feel more inviting for people.
We have also been identifying which barriers to fish migration could feasibly be removed and pinpointing areas for electrofishing to monitor the fish populations before and after our practical tasks.
Further surveys and hands-on work will take place from early 2021 and we'll soon have some fixed point photography posts in place - keep a look out for them. Once you spot one, do feel free to share your photos or videos taken from their locations.
Keep up to date via wrt.org.uk/project/plymouth-river-keepers/
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If you can help, please contact FWAG on the details above or email our
Preventing Plastic Pollution project manager Andy Rogers
at andy@wrt.org.uk for more details.
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Our partnership with the Connecting the Culm team has created a thriving and growing community of supporters.
There have been myriad events this year, all helping to create the
Blueprint for the Culm.
Next up in 2021 on 19 January is a Catchment Adaptation Workshop where we’ll be exploring “why, what, where and how” to plant trees, with a specific focus on the River Culm catchment.
Save the date and find out how to book at
connectingtheculm.com/event/trees-for-the-culm/
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There are so many projects and stories to share
that we can't always fit them in to one newsletter.
But you can always visit wrt.org.uk/wrt-news/ to keep up-to-date
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On-going working practices
As the response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves,
here at the Trust we are still following our
COVID-19 Response Policy.
Read more at:
Working Practices During COVID-19
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Registered Charity No.: 1135007 - Company No.: 06545646
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