Natural England

The River Avon, its main tributaries and river valleys are one of the best river systems for wildlife in the UK. Natural England is leading the STREAM and Living River projects, which contribute to integrating wildlife, landscape and promoting community engagement in the catchment.

The river system flows through a region of outstanding natural and cultural heritage, with the Wiltshire tributaries converging in Salisbury, and meeting the sea at Christchurch. They support habitats and species listed in UK and local Biodiversity Action Plans, and are of national and international importance, with Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area designations.

Strategic restoration and management (STREAM)-Restoring the River Avon Special Area of Conservation

£1 million has been secured from the European Commission’s LIFE-Nature programme to support river restoration on the internationally protected River Avon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Wiltshire and Hampshire.

STREAM is supported financially by the European Commission’s LIFE-Nature programme. Natural England is working with project participants the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Wessex Water. Between 2005 and 2009 the project will undertake:

River restoration

• Demonstrating restoration of seven kilometres at six sites on the Avon, Nadder, Wylye and the Dockens Water
• Addressing habitat degradation due to past engineering

Linking river and valley

• species getting trapped in the valley ditch networks
• developing a prioritised programme of ditch restoration
• developing and testing operating regimes for key sluices

Monitoring

• Monitoring the physical and biological effect of the restoration work
• Evaluating success (and failures) to inform future restoration

Events and publications

• Open days and seminars for the public, land managers and river restoration specialists
• Advice notes, technical reports and guidance

For more information contact project manager Jenny Wheeldon jenny.wheeldon@naturalengland.org.uk or visit the project website www.streamlife.org.uk

The Living River

The Living River is a £1 million Heritage Lottery funded project that will involve people throughout the River Avon catchment with the conservation of its natural heritage. The project aims to increase awareness and appreciation of the River Avon system, focussing on how its natural heritage is linked to the rich cultural heritage of the area. It will invest resources from a range of partners in long-lasting improvements to biodiversity and access to the heritage, and will use innovative methods to engage audiences across the catchment and secure their support for its conservation.

The Living River targets four audiences: land managers, river users, influencers (such al local authorities) and the public who live and work in the catchment. Between 2006 and 20010 the project will complete the following programmes:

Biodiversity restoration

• at sites the public can access and enjoy, involving residents and volunteers in restoration activities
• addressing the management of invasive plants at a catchment-wide level through the development of a stakeholder forum, 20 year action plan and community involvement
• Demonstrating that biodiversity management and access can be mutually beneficial

Access and Interpretation

• Enhancing information and access to the river at over 40 sites across the catchment, working with the communities that live there
• Enhancing access to information about the river across the catchment through website, interactive media and exhibits
• Working with Salisbury International Arts Festival to develop river related theatre, sculpture and an audio archive

Education and Training

• Open days, volunteer activities and training to help people get more from their involvement, understand their relationship with the river system and take responsibility for it
• Raising awareness of the relationship between the river and water use in the catchment

The Project will demonstrate how a complex and largely privately owned natural heritage asset can be made widely accessible to a range of audiences.

For more information contact project manager: Sarah Yarrow sarah.yarrow@naturalengland.org.uk or visit www.livingriver.org.uk