Cheshire River Catchment Initiatives
Across Cheshire a range of LNP partners are taking action to help our rivers to become healthier, backed by water companies and other investors, tackling issues such as urban/rural diffuse pollution, invasive non-native species, bank erosion, barriers to specie passage and flood risk. The health of our rivers isn’t just important to nature’s recovery but enabling sustainable economic growth across the county.
The Weaver Gowy Catchment Partnership has a story map demonstrating projects with landowners making the difference across the the Dane, Gowy, Lower and Upper Weaver catchments. Most of these projects delivered through support from United Utilities and the Environment Agency.
Amongst several projects across Cheshire the Mersey Rivers Trust are working to help protect and improve water quality in Upper Weaver Catchment in Cheshire by working with farms in the Darley Brook, Ash Brook, Valley Brook and Englesea Brook catchments. Through conversations with farmers, and visits to farmyards and fields, Water Management Plans are created that will give recommendations and advice on new opportunities for managing surface water, runoff, slurry, livestock and more.
With Green Recovery Challenge Funding, other grants, and as part of the National Trust’s Riverlands Program a number of projects continue to be coordinated on the River Bollin, all aimed at building resilience; improving water quality, creating land that is more resilient to extreme weather events and ensuring our landscape is loved and cared for by generations to come. A wide range of partners are working together to ensure the catchment is healthy, clean, and rich in wildlife, managing invasive species and encouraging citizen science. Partners aim for the River Bollin valley to be easily accessed, valued, and loved for their heritage and beauty, and ensure the sustainable long- term care of the catchment.
The River Dee is a SAC and provides drinking water to approximately 3,000,000 people. Unfortunately, the river is failing to reach the standards required to contain flourishing wildlife and benefit local communities. There are a wide variety of stakeholders who are working to improve the health of the river, each with slightly different priorities and experience. The Middle Dee Catchment Partnership brings together these stakeholders to improve the local water environment for the benefit of wildlife and people in the Middle Dee Catchment area by working together to understand the issues, share information, resources, learning and evidence, and working collaboratively to ensure action on the ground is coordinated.
