Eden Rivers Trust’s project focussed on the Lyvennet, Scandal Beck and their tributaries, restoring river channels, improving habitats and introducing new natural flood management features, with major projects at Crake Trees and Bowber Head.

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Project lead: Lev Dahl, Eden Rivers Trust

The Westmorland Dales is drained by the Lune catchment to the south and west and by the Eden catchment to the north and east. As part of Cumbria’s River Restoration Strategy, Eden Rivers Trust’s project focussed on river restoration and natural flood management measures to restore the natural courses of watercourses, improve habitats and help reduce the flood risk
downstream. This included working with farmers and landowners on:

• The restoration or improvement of 2.8km of river channels.
• The restoration of 10 hectares of riverine habitat.
• The creation of 34 natural flood management features.

They also worked with volunteers, primary and secondary schools in undertaking the work and explaining about the value and importance of river systems. 

Major projects were undertaken:

• With a private landowner on a tributary of the Lyvennet at Crake Trees, near Crosby Ravensworth.
• With Cumbria Wildlife Trust on the Scandal Beck upstream of Ravenstonedale at Bowber Head.

Both these sites are crossed by public rights of way so much of the work is visible. Bowber Head is a Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve with magnificent hay meadows, so a visit there in early summer to enjoy the wildflowers and see the river restoration work will be well worth it.

The webinar recording focussing on the work at Crake Trees can be found here:

Slowing the Flow webinar

Further information is available from the Eden Rivers Trust website.