National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £181k to break down barriers and build bridges to Eden's rivers and nature

The climate crisis, pollution and habitat loss are all taking their toll on Eden’s rivers. At the same time, rivers have never been more needed by people – for health, well-being and recreation.

We’re delighted to announce that we have been given a helping hand from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop a major project that will improve both access to Eden and its natural heritage by breaking down the barriers for people and nature to thrive in, and beside our rivers.

Thanks to National Lottery Players, we have been awarded development funding of £181,190 to help us and our partners progress our plans so that we can apply for a full National Lottery grant next year.

The project, Access to Eden: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges will remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing the natural heritage of Eden and build the bridges needed to give them the confidence to enjoy our blue and green spaces. Having healthy, thriving natural spaces is key to this, so there are also plans to remove barriers for Eden’s special wildlife, connect habitats and promote nature recovery.

Access to Eden will focus on improving participants’ physical and mental health and well-being in a sustainable and fun way, and future projects include:

• Co-creating and improving accessible green spaces on people’s doorsteps in Penrith and Carlisle, including a reserve next to the new Cold Springs Estate, Penrith ; a community tree nursery in west Penrith and improving Engine Lonning reserve, Carlisle,
• Exploring, rediscovering and connecting paths and trails along, and in the River Eden by improving access to the river and countryside through a set of trails – both new ones and refreshed favourites. This will include some fully accessible routes and new ‘ways to the water’ with train trips to Settle-Carlisle stations and onto the river for all ability and mobility levels, with wheelchair hubs in Appleby and Carlisle,
• Leading a river revival, where environmental organisations and communities improve and protect wildlife habitats, removing barriers to fish migration and tackling invasive species,
• Clearing up the Caldew – combining float trips, riverbank walks and paddling to retrieve plastic pollution from the whole length of the River Caldew,
• Hosting a community welcome by the Fellside becks, ‘twinning’ with groups from Carlisle and beyond, and
• Creating an Eden Access hub that will promote access to Eden in every way possible, as sustainably as possible, both online and in print.

We are leading a 15-strong partnership that brings together local councils, environmental organisations, river user and transport groups, community groups and accessibility campaigners whose knowledge and expertise will unlock rivers and nature for more people than ever before, providing opportunities to connect them to the wonder that is the natural world found in the wider Eden valley.

Partners and beneficiaries already on board:

Access the Dales, Brampton Angling Association, Cumberland Council (Carlisle City Council), Carlisle Waverley Viaduct Trust, Cumbria Canoeists the delivery partner of the British Canoeing Cumbria Regional Development Team, Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Westmorland and Furness Council (Eden District Council), Eden Rivers Trust, 4 Eden, North Pennines AONB Partnership, Penrith and Eden Refugee Network, Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, and Yorkshire Dales National Park

… could you be involved too?

Elizabeth Radford, Chief Executive, Eden Rivers Trust, said:

We are delighted to have received this funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop our Access to Eden project. We’re working with a greater variety of partners than ever before, from Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Yorkshire Dales National Park to 4Eden, Penrith and Eden Refuge Network, Cumbria Canoeists, Carlisle Waverley Viaduct Trust, Access the Dales and The Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company.  Many of these partners bring new perspectives, skills and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those Cumbrians who experience the greatest barriers to getting out into this landscape. We want to involve many more in the course of this project!

We can’t wait to get started co-creating innovative and rewarding experiences and conservation activities with all our partners that will break down the barriers to people being able to connect with nature and help more people know and love the Eden and be enthused and empowered to help with its conservation and save our natural heritage.

 

 Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

I’m delighted that we are providing support to this major new project, which recognises the vital role of rivers and lakes as the lifeblood and heartland of communities. The work of Eden Rivers Trust will help to ensure our natural heritage is preserved and enhanced for the benefit of all, thanks to National Lottery players.

Look out for more details and news about this exciting project soon!