January 2026
Biss Brook, Westbury
Words from the Chair
On behalf of the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership, I wish you all a Happy New Year.
I hope that you have a successful year in 2026, and that, together, we continue to make significant improvements to our rivers and wetlands.
Best wishes,
Dr Richard Cresswell MBE
Chair, Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership
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Catchment News
Wiltshire's Enhanced Biodiversity Duty Report
Wiltshire Council have published their first Enhanced Biodiversity Duty Report, which confirms that biodiversity is now embedded across the council’s key strategies and plans. Some key actions in the plan include aiming for 20% biodiversity net gain, alongside several biodiversity projects, including transforming a dairy farm into 227 acres of chalk grassland, tree planting and a rewilding project. The report also outlines funding already secured for nature recovery in the region.
Read more here, or find the report here.
Trendlewood Park Tree Trail, Nailsea
Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Friends of Trendlewood Park have created a new tree trail map. Following the map will lead you on a trail of 15 different native and non-native tree species, each marked by a handcrafted sign made from locally sourced recycled wood.
Find out more here.
Do you have a good news community project which you would like to share? Get in contact at info@bristolavoncatchment.co.uk to feature your story in our next newsletter.
Water Saving Community Fund - Funding opportunity
Bristol Water has launched a new fund aimed at encouraging water use efficiency and supporting local projects in Bristol. Each year, £25,000 is available for community groups and non-profit organisations.
Community groups can apply for up to £1000, and applications are reviewed monthly. Registered non-profit organisations can apply for up to £10,000, with applications being reviewed twice a year.
Find more information here.
Riverfly update
Riverflies are invertebrates which spend most of their lifecycle living in rivers. They are a food source for fish and birds, rendering them a vital link to the aquatic food chain. They are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, so their presence or absence is a good indicator of water quality and river health.
The Riverfly Partnership produce monthly reports summarising the data collected from their monitors across the UK. They will soon be publishing an annual report for 2025, which will be available to find here.
Trout in the Trym have published the annual average scores for riverfly in three locations across the River Trym and the Hazel Brook. Following a very dry year, the 2025 results show a lower score than 2024; however, there is still a general upward trend over the last five years. Diversity and abundance of invertebrates in the rivers, unfortunately remains poor.
Find more information from Trout in the Trym here.
You can also see riverfly data from across the catchment at RiverHub.
Credit: Trout in the Trym
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Events
Green Mingle - Networking event
Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership host a free monthly informal networking event for individuals interested to learn about sustainable projects and initiatives across Bristol.
The next session takes place on Tuesday, 5th February 2026, focusing on highlighting organisations paving the way for green skill opportunities across the city, as part of the Mission Net Zero project.
Find out more here.
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Wider News
Positive news for salmon
Young salmon
Credit: South West Water
In three rivers in the North-West of England, young Atlantic salmon have been spotted for the first time since 2015, having travelled from the Arctic Circle to spawn. Salmon species face challenges breeding due to dams and weirs, invasive non-native species, water quality and climate change. The Environment Agency have plans to undertake a new salmon distribution study in early 2026 using eDNA sampling.
At the River Teign in Devon, electrofishing surveys have revealed that salmon are now consistently being found further upstream toward Fernworthy reservoir than they have been in many years. This improvement is the result of an eleven-year partnership between South West Water and the Westcountry Rivers Trust, which involved adding gravel to the river to restore the natural spawning habitats that salmon rely on to lay their eggs.
Read more about these projects here and here.
Reservoirs in the Landscape: Design Principles
Natural England, working with water companies, regulators, and conservation bodies, has published a new resource which sets guidelines for designing reservoirs. It ensures that their design considers and fits in with the existing landscape through supporting biodiversity and providing benefits for local communities.
Over the next three decades, there are several new reservoirs planned to be constructed across the region. Although primarily aimed towards water companies, this resource may be useful for other stakeholders.
There is an upcoming webinar with further information about this document. Email clare.foster@naturalengland.org.uk to register your interest.
Find out more here, or find the report here.
OEP Published latest report on Progress in improving the natural environment in England 2024/2025
The OEP’s (Office for Environmental Protection) latest report states the Government remains off track to meet its environmental commitments and its actions now will determine whether or not key targets for biodiversity and the protection of land and sea by 2030 will be met.
An update on water can be found in Chapter 4.
- The highlighting include:
Only 16% of surface waters nationally are at Good Ecological Status, with small rivers and streams showing continued decline. - Progress on reducing phosphorus from wastewater treatment is good, but agricultural and urban runoff remain off track, contributing to poorer ecological outcomes. Strengthening catchment-scale interventions will be essential.
- More frequent extreme weather events, droughts and floods, are placing added stress on catchments. While water demand is decreasing, overall water environment targets remain off track, highlighting the need for joined-up, resilient catchment management.
You can read the full report here.
Launch of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment
The Environment Agency has published the first set of data from the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. This work is designed to create a national baseline of England’s freshwater ecosystems by 2029, so that we can better understand the state of England’s water environment at a national scale. A portion of this work has been contributed by partners across the catchment, reflecting the collaborative effort behind the programme. This data will support policy and investment decisions and provide transparency. Future data releases are planned for freshwater, groundwater, estuarine, and coastal networks.
Find out more here.
Mersey Valley Way - The first national river walk
As a part of the government's manifesto pledge, the first of nine new river walks has been announced on the Mersey Valley Way, which stretches 21km from Stockport to Manchester. The route will feature upgraded, accessible paths for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, while improving green space access for disadvantaged communities. The project includes community engagement through volunteer activities and a logo-design competition for local schools. Completion is expected by spring, with a national competition to select the remaining eight river walks launching in 2026.
Find out more here.
Release of the A New Vision for Water: Water White Paper
On the 20th January, Defra published the A New Vision for Water: Water White Paper. This document sets out to reform the water sector, acting on some of the recommendations from the Cunliffe review.
Some key points include:
- How Defra plan to introduce a new integrated water regulator, combining the work of Ofwat, Natural England, Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
- Replacing over 20 existing processes with two streamlined frameworks (water supply and water environment).
- Addressing the root cause of pollution by shifting focus towards ‘pre-pipe’ solutions such as rainwater management, sustainable drainage systems, tackling sewer misuse and addressing issues caused by private sewerage.
- Consolidating existing agricultural regulatory framework into a single set of stronger and clearer national standards.
- Ending water company operator self-monitoring for pollution incidents, and developing a new Open Monitoring approach for monitoring wastewater.
- Introducing a new ‘MOT’ approach for water company infrastructure, requiring health checks on pipes, pumps and more.
- Producing a joint Transition Plan with Wales, providing a roadmap for transformation of the water industry regulatory framework.