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Executive Summary Rivers and Wetlands

Community DaysImproving rivers and wetlands for

people, floods and wildlife

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Executive Summary: Rivers and Wetlands Community Days “transforming rivers and wetlands where you live”

Aim: work together to collaboratively develop and deliver a three-year rolling programme of practical days providing opportunities for local people to restore and enhance their rivers and wetlands, care for them in future years and build lasting relationships to achieve greater benefits from water environments. Each year we will focus on World Rivers Day which, for 2014, will be on 28 September.

What are Rivers and Wetlands Community Days?

These days provide communities with technical skills, materials and extra pairs of hands to do practical work to improve rivers, wetlands and stillwaters and use natural processes to reduce flood risk. They offer inspiring and engaging days for communities, joining up catchments in Thames and South East river basin districts. Supported by a Delivery Partnership including the Environment Agency, these days will be led by delivery partners like the Wild Trout Trust, Institute of Fisheries Management, Rivers or Wildlife Trusts.

This annual programme has developed collaboratively with water interest groups following excellent feedback from people involved in similar events over the last three years. This upcoming programme aims to build on these successes and make Rivers and Wetlands Community Days more widely available, higher quality and with tailored support.

Colne Habitat Masterclass 2013 Three Rivers Clean up 2012

Loddon Rivers Week 2012 Chess Masterclass 2012

What will Rivers and Wetlands Community Days achieve?

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1. Community Days. Facilitate local communities in carrying out practical work re-naturalising habitats, improving and protecting the ecology of their local rivers, wetlands and stillwaters benefitting people, economies and wildlife

2. A three year Rivers and Wetlands Community Days programme developed collaboratively with multiple benefits

3. Inspiring others to get energised and enthused about caring for their local water environment leading to the establishment of new environmental stewardship and amenity groups

4. Increased participation and better links between catchment partnerships, flood groups, local nature partnerships and local enterprise partnerships

5. Benefitting all catchments through ‘how to’ packs, case studies, successes and top tips, events and on-the-ground delivery

6. Partnership funding enhanced with matching funding, assistance in kind and volunteer input

7. Sharing and delivering best practice with technical support, techniques and project appraisals building on successful Thames, Wye and Loddon Rivers Weeks, Colne Habitat Masterclass and Three Rivers Clean up in London

8. Linking countries on World Rivers Day, a global celebration of the world’s waterways on the 28 September 2014 by providing an international case study of collaborative river basin delivery

9. Help deliver key drivers like the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive and Floods Directive and other legal and policy drivers bringing to life local initiatives including the Catchment Based Approach

10. Great media opportunities for local groups and sponsors and increased environmental awareness.

How is the programme of work decided?

How can you get involved in making it happen?

Catchment partnership or

community identifies a need

Delivery Partnership assess the proposals and

makes recommendations

Principle delivery partner and main

sponsor is identified

Rivers and Wetlands

Community Days deliver action,

monitor and feed back

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PartnershipThe Rivers and Wetlands Community Days are about businesses and local communities working with the Wild Trout Trust, Angling Trust, Wildlife Trusts, the Environment Agency, NGOs, landowners and fisheries to make a real difference to our rivers and wetlands.

FundingThis has the potential for being a prestigious, internationally recognised river and wetland enhancement programme, which will draw on funding from a variety of sources both in cash and in kind. There is approximately £50K available per annum to support projects. It is anticipated that individual project awards will be up to approximately £5000. It is hoped that successful applicants will come forward with additional, locally-sourced finance and contributions.

In kind supportLocal community groups or catchment partnerships can get involved by putting forward suggestions for action, supporting organising events, promoting the programme thorough their communications channels and offering the skills, expertise and energy of their members on the day.

Governance and the Delivery Partnership The programme will be overseen by a Delivery Partnership made up of the Wild Trout Trust, Angling Trust, Environment Agency, Local Nature Partnership and other supporting NGOs. They will also be responsible for determining funding applications, which will have to successfully meet the programme’s priorities set out in a simple application form.

Delivery partner and expert oversightThe Wild Trout Trust will be the programme’s principal delivery partner in the Thames catchment for habitat work though other expert bodies might support applicants. They will provide practical assistance and expertise to ensure that all projects optimise their benefits for people and wildlife, help reduce flood risk and are carried out safely and professionally. Further expert support will also be provided by the Delivery Partnership including the Environment Agency.

ApplicantsThe programme is open to community groups including Water Framework Directive Catchment Hosts.

PublicityThere is significant scope for very positive media coverage of business and communities working together to enhance rivers and wetlands for the benefit of people and wildlife. There will be regular national, regional and local publicity opportunities before and during the activities. In order to help build recognition of this programme, a logo has been developed and a gate post badge that says: ‘Rivers and Wetlands Community Days 2014’.

Volunteers helping with practical events in the Colne and Loddon said:

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“Thank you so much for organising the training day today. I thoroughly enjoyed myself - I still can't get over just how quickly the river flow was changing after our cutting and building. The "trout" guys obviously know exactly what they are doing. I think I must arrange a trip to Harmondsworth for our local RSPB just to see what it looks like in a few months time. It was good to hear some other sides of water management too - I'll definitely use my new shower head!”

“I hope that we'll be able to get things going at Boxmoor before long - I'm quite addicted to standing in the middle of a river - so long as it's not too cold - or wet!”

“Thank you so much for yesterday’s experience. It was great to spend the day in such pleasant and experienced company. I shall most certainly put the knowledge gained to good use on my river”

“We had a fantastic day and it was great fun too!”

“I have finally dried out after Tuesday on the Gade and have been down for a look. The river is looking great, and some new chub on station by upstream deflectors. Please convey my thanks to all concerned for the day and all their wet hard work”

Contact: To coordinate your interest and discuss next steps, please contact either

Shaun Leonard, Wild Trout Trust: director@wildtrout.org

Dominic Martyn, Environment Agency: dominic.martyn@environment-agency.gov.uk

Martin Salter, Angling Trust: martin.salter@anglingtrust.net

Colne Habitat Masterclasses 2014

Loddon Rivers Week 2013, River Blackwater

Loddon Rivers Week 2014, River Blackwater