Tackling climate change

Climate change is already reshaping our environment. Without action, Cumbria’s water systems face serious risks.

At Eden Rivers Trust, we focus on working with nature to create resilient rivers and landscapes that can adapt to our changing climate.

Wetland (small lake) surrounded by lots of tree saplings in green tree tubes.

Bridge at Pooley Bridge washed away by flood during Storm Desmond

What’s at stake for Cumbria’s rivers and lakes?

Our rivers are under pressure like never before. Our changing climate is contributing to this leading to:

Lower river and lake levels during droughts,
Increased flooding from extreme weather events,
Reduced water quality, with pollutants becoming more concentrated (especially during low flows),
Rising temperatures, lowering oxygen levels and stressing aquatic life,
Disrupted habitats as a result of wildfires and flooding,
Seasonal shifts, affecting pollinators and plant cycles,
Algae blooms on our lakes,
more frequent sewage overflow events during high rainfall, and
Erosion of river access routes due to flooding.

These changes threaten not only wildlife, but also farming, tourism, and community wellbeing.

Image from Storm Desmond at Pooley Bridge showing the devastation after the bridge was washed away.

How can we reduce the impact?

To protect Eden's rivers and lakes, a multi-pronged approach is required that combines carbon reduction and storage (sequestration), adaptation and restoration.

We proudly host the Eden Catchment Partnership, bringing together over 30 like-minded organisations to sustainably manage water across the catchment. Through this collaborative effort, we advance nature recovery, improve water quality, reduce flood and drought risks, and enhance carbon capture, ensuring that conservation efforts are joined-up, impactful, and community-led.

A field with long grass and a small stream winding its way through it. On either side of the stream there are lots of upright plastic tubes scattered throughout the field. These all have saplings inside them.

Carbon capture and storage

Through our work with farms, landowners, and businesses looking to reduce their emissions through carbon budgeting, renewable energy, and sustainable practices, we propose nature-based solutions that will also contribute towards the 2037 goal and signpost them towards potential funding sources.

We support initiatives that involve managing land for carbon storage, such as:

Protecting upland soils and restoring habitats like peat bogs, scrub, and native woodlands to help lock away carbon and improve water retention, and
Creation of new woodland - most recently through schemes such as Woods for Water.

A river meanders through a field. To the left of the river is a pond and plastic tubes containing saplings are scattered over the site.

Adaptation and restoration

Through deliver water quality improvements, flood and drought resilience and resilient habitat restoration through nature-based solutions.

Many of the tools and techniques we use provide natural flood management that slows, intercepts and/or stores water to reduce the peak flows during high flows. These include:

Riaprian tree planting for shade, bank stability and to soak up water (through leaves and roots),
Re-meandering rivers to create longer,'wiggling' channels that hold more water and slow the flow,
Scrape creation to provide temporary water storage during heavy rainfall that slowly trickles back into the river over time - and holds water during drought,
Reconnecting rivers with their floodplain to provide a 'release valve' during high flows and let the water spill out of the river onto the surrounding land,
Leaky dams on smaller becks in the upper reaches that hold back water during high flows and slowly release water,
Cross-slope kested hedges to hold water back as it rushes from the top of the hill and soak up excess water.

A group of adults and children are looking at two women explaining about things that can't be flushed down a loo. One is holding up a jar with white bits half dissolved in water, and the other woman is pointing at it.

Stuart Walker Photography

Encouraging individual action

Act for Eden – a campaign highlighting simple ways that everyone can use water wisely, reduce pollution and protect nature … all from the comfort of their own home. Also features resources to inform and inspire schoolchildren about where their water comes from and how they can help keep rivers clean.
Septic tank care and replacement – preventing pollution from private sewage systems from reaching our rivers.

The future?

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made using nature-based solutions to build the resilience of Eden's rivers and landscapes. From creating wetlands and planting trees, to reconnecting rivers with their floodplains and creating water storage, these interventions are already making a difference.

But to truly protect the entire Eden catchment, we need to scale up our efforts—and that means securing the funding to match our ambition.

We have the tools—now we need the means

Our community engagement campaigns are raising awareness and inspiring action.

Our river knowledge and on-the-ground experience guides effective, targeted interventions.

Our collaborative partnerships across Cumbria ensure a joined-up approach.

What’s missing?

Sustainable funding to expand these efforts across the whole catchment and deliver long-term impact.

Does our goal match yours? Talk to us about working together for a climate resilient Eden.

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