The work of the Environment Agency, Natural England and partners was announced as the winner of the prestigious European Riverprize on 29th November for efforts across Cumbria to reinstate natural river processes that benefit both people and wildlife.

The programme undertaken by members of the Cumbria River Restoration Partnership has improved almost 100k of river length and restored over 150 hectares of floodplain across the catchments of the Rivers Eden, Derwent and Kent. It has also reduced flood risk, removed plastic from rivers and boosted biodiversity in the region.

The partnership is led by the Environment Agency and Natural England and partners include Eden Rivers Trust, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, National Trust, RSPB, Ullswater CIC and United Utilities.

Olly Southgate, Cumbria River Restoration Programme Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

It’s fantastic to see the work of the Cumbria River Restoration programme being recognised on an international scale. River restoration work can provide a wide range of benefits, creating better natural habitats for wildlife and reducing flood risk through innovative nature-based solutions.

In an ever-changing climate, it’s work like this that will help to improve our environment for generations to come.

We would like to thank all partners, stakeholders, local communities and private landowners involved in bringing this programme to fruition.

Why does Cumbria need a county-wide focus on river restoration?

Cumbria’s rivers have been impacted by changing patterns of farming and land management over many centuries. All the watercourses within Cumbria have at some point been modified or altered to create space for farming practices.

This has exacerbated the effects of several severe flood events in recent years, with the area also suffering degradation of designated protected areas and a severe decline in biodiversity.

The Cumbria River Restoration Partnership programme has carried out more than 100 separate projects including reintroducing meanders, removing weirs and planting trees.

Practical work was also accompanied by engagement, training and educational initiatives including community events, volunteer days, internal and external training, conference and workshop presentations.

We have been proud to be a member of the partnership since 2013, with a remeandering project at Thrimby Hall being the first of many we have delivered over the years as part of the programme!

Elizabeth Radford, our CEO said:

We are incredibly proud to be a part of this ground-breaking partnership and to win this award. This recognises not only the scale and breadth of the work we have undertaken over the last decade, but also pays tribute to all of the farmers and landowners that work with us – without whom none of this would be possible.

About the European Riverprize / International Riversymposium

First awarded in 2013, the European Riverprize celebrates excellence in the management, conservation and development of Europe’s rivers, wetlands and surrounding communities. Historically, the prize is awarded in conjunction with the European River Symposium, which attracts an audience of Europe’s leading advocates for environment and river protection, including the European Commissioner for Environment.

This year, the European Riverprize was awarded during the Gala Dinner of the 25th International Riversymposium in Vienna.

The other two finalists were a campaign to save one of Europe’s last wild rivers, the Vjosa in Albania, and a project covering the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers in central Europe.