June 2025

Words from the Chair

It is great to see so much positive work going on within the catchment and beyond. With nature under pressure from climate change, pollution and increased development, it is encouraging to see more and more people getting involved and speaking out.

Nature and cleaner more vibrant rivers are important to people’s well-being and are key to the region’s growth and economy. It is not and ‘either/or’; with thought and care we can and should achieve both.

Dr Richard Cresswell MBE
Chair, Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership

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Successful Catchment Partnership Fund 2025/26 projects

Following the recent meeting of our assessment panel, we are pleased to announce the projects below have been awarded funding from the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership Fund. We are really looking forward to following their delivery and will keep you updated on progress.

There is still funding available this year, so if you would like to put forward projects to be considered at the next assessment panel in October, please reach out to us by 15th September to discuss your ideas.

Please do contact us or find out more about the Catchment Partnership Fund here.

Main Grant Scheme

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) in Wiltshire – Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (WWT)

This project plans to undertake and update surveys of Himalayan Balsam in parts of the headwaters of the Bristol Avon and its tributaries, forming a top-down approach. WWT will be running volunteer Himalayan Balsam pulling sessions along the Avon and continuing to engage with the public to aid recognition of INNS in local watercourses.

Park Farm Wetlands – Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (WWT)

This project seeks to create two new wetland areas along the banks of the Lambrok by excavating riparian land by approximately one metre to summer water levels. These new areas are designed to develop diverse riparian habitats and become seasonally flooded, providing flood, habitat, and water quality benefits.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Catchment Partnership Fund Funding Partners for their support this year.

Catchment News

Natural Flood Management in Malmesbury

Floodplain scrapes in Malmesbury‎‎
Photo credit: Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART)

To tackle increasing flood risks in Malmesbury, the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) have worked with local landowners to implement Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures upstream of the town. These nature-based solutions aim to slow water flow, reduce downstream flooding, and enhance local biodiversity.

In 2025, the project delivered:
• 8 large floodplain scrapes and 12 woody debris features
• Leaky dams made from coppiced tree limbs to mimic natural blockages
• Wetland seed mixes to restore habitat and support wildlife
• Low earth bunds to retain water and create varied terrain

These features help store water during heavy rainfall, reconnect rivers with their floodplains, provide new habitats, and allow the land to remain usable for grazing. It is estimated that around 1000 m3 of water will be stored in the scrapes in addition to that held up behind the large woody debris structures. It’s a triple win: for flood resilience, biodiversity, and local farming.

BART thanks the Environment Agency (EA) for funding this work and the landowners for their enthusiasm and willingness to trial out NFM measures on their land.

Protecting our local rivers – Community Action on the Avon

Avon Wildlife Trust’s latest blog highlights how local communities along the River Avon are stepping up to protect their rivers in the face of rising pollution, habitat loss, and climate change.

Residents have noticed more plastic waste, increased flooding, and a decline in wildlife; prompting a wave of grassroots action.

Community groups are responding with a wide range of initiatives including hosting public events such as the Festival of Nature and Wild Rivers Festival, promoting sustainable habits at home, and encouraging wildlife-friendly gardening to reduce run-off. Volunteers are also involved in citizen science, monitoring water quality, tracking species, and raising awareness about invasive non-native species.

Read the full article here.

Learn more and find out how to support your local rivers here.

Somerset Beaver Management Guide and Recommendations

After an absence of approximately 400 years, beavers are officially back in Great Britain, including in Somerset. Beavers are a native British species and co-evolved with other native wildlife that remains well-adapted to living alongside beavers. However, in the past 40 decades, the way humans live and manage land has changed. To support local communities, the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SW), with funding from Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), commissioned Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) to produce a document to offer guidance to communities and land managers. The guidance signposts to government policies and frameworks that must be complied with and makes recommendations on how communities could address potential challenges and benefit from the beavers’ return to Britain.

Find the document here and read more on this here.

Events

Join the Bristol Avon RiverBlitz 2025!

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) invites everyone in the Bristol Avon catchment to take part in their annual RiverBlitz citizen science event, running from 4th – 11th July. Participants are invited to sample their local rivers, streams, and ditches (including the River Avon, River Chew, Bristol Frome, Somerset Frome, River Trym, and more) to help monitor water quality and support healthier waterways.

Participants will test for nitrates and phosphates to help identify pollution hotspots and track river health. This is a great way to connect with nature, support science, and help protect our rivers.

You can explore previously collected RiverBlitz data here.

Sign up for the Swindon Wellbeing Programme – Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Swindon Wellbeing Programme will relaunch on 1st July, with a new 12-week format. Aimed at improving adult mental health through time in nature, the programme offers activities like conservation work, green woodworking, mindfulness, and nature-inspired arts and crafts.

Sessions will include both general and targeted groups - for men, women, LGBTQIA+ communities, and specific Swindon areas. Participants will also be introduced to local community projects to help maintain long-term connections with nature and each other.

An additional 6-12 weeks of follow-up support will help participants confidently access green spaces, outdoor volunteering, and community activities.

To find out more, contact the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Wellbeing team.

Wider News

Making Space for Water – The Rivers Trust campaign

The Rivers Trust, in partnership with the National Trust, Woodland Trust, and Beaver Trust, has launched a new campaign: Making Space for Water. The initiative calls on the UK government to fund the creation of nature-rich river corridors that restore river health, support wildlife, and protect communities from flooding and drought.

With only a third of UK rivers in good ecological health, the campaign highlights the urgent need to let rivers flow more naturally. These restored river corridors can improve water quality, boost biodiversity, and help tackle climate change.

The campaign aims to gather over 10,000 signatures to push for government action.

Find out more and sign the petition here.

Big River Watch – Spring 2025 Results

This spring, nearly 4,000 people across the UK and Ireland joined The Rivers Trust’s Big River Watch, submitting over 2,200 surveys through the app. Participants recorded a wide range of wildlife including ducks, fish, river flies, and even 11 beavers – highlighting the biodiversity of our waterways.

However, the results also revealed ongoing environmental concerns:
• 54% of surveys reported at least one form of pollution.
• Silt was the most common pollutant, appearing in 547 reports.
• Livestock pollution was found in 343 reports.
• Other issues included: visible sewage, litter, and signs of nutrient pollution.

These data, gathered between 25th April - 1st May 2025, will help guide river restoration efforts and influence environmental policy. This year’s Watch also marked a new partnership with Earthwatch’s WaterBlitz, enabling participants to test for nitrates and phosphates; key indicators of water quality.

Additionally, participants in the Big River Watch were asked to describe how they felt during their river visits using a single word. The responses revealed a strong emotional connection to river health.

People observing clean, healthy rivers often described feeling calm or peaceful. In contrast, those who encountered polluted or degraded rivers were more likely to report feeling sad or frustrated. These emotional reactions highlight that the state of our rivers isn’t just an environmental issue – it influences our mental wellbeing and our relationship with the places we live.

Explore the full results here.

Percentage of the different pollutants recorded during the Big River Watch (May 2025)
Image credit: The Rivers Trust

How Big River Watch participants felt when looking at healthy or unhealthy rivers
Image credit: The Rivers Trust

Report a water pollution or odour problem

Using a phone to report an environmental problem
Photo credit: Environment Agency (EA)

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a new online reporting service for water and odour pollution, replacing the traditional telephone hotline. This user-friendly tool allows the public to report incidents more accurately by using interactive maps to pinpoint locations and soon, will support photo and video uploads to provide visual evidence. This upgrade aims to improve response times and data quality, helping the EA better protect our rivers and communities.

Visit here to report an incident.

Reforms to bolster flood protection for communities across the country

The UK government has announced major reforms to accelerate the delivery of flood protection schemes across the country. Unveiled by Floods Minister Emma Hardy, the new approach will simplify the funding process, especially benefiting rural, coastal, and lower-resourced councils.

The government will fully fund the first £3 million of each flood or coastal erosion project.

Only 10% of remaining costs will need to be sourced elsewhere, such as through private investment.

The complex funding formula will be replaced with a simpler, more strategic system, making it easier to prioritise projects that deliver strong community and environmental benefits. These changes are part of a wider £2.65 billion investment in flood defences, aiming to protect thousands of homes and businesses and improve resilience to extreme weather.

A consultation is now open, where you can have your say about how projects are prioritised for delivery.

Restoring the River Mimram - Hertfordshire

The Environment Agency (EA), in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, is leading efforts to restore the River Mimram – one of England’s rare and ecologically important chalk streams. The EA is working with local landowners and communities to improve water quality, reduce pollution, and enhance natural habitats.

This work is being funded through the Chalk Partnership Fund and plays a key role in delivering the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy in the Mimram Valley.

This collaborative, catchment-based approach aims to build climate resilience and protect biodiversity, ensuring the Mimram thrives for future generations.

Shared Standards in Water Efficiency for Local Plans in East Anglia

Photo credit: Water Resources East (WRE)

The East of England is a region with high housing growth but low rainfall. It has been estimated that by 2050, it could face a daily water shortage of 730 million litres due to climate change and increasing demand. To tackle this, Natural England, the Environment Agency (EA) and water companies have created “The Shared Standards in Water Efficiency for Local Plans”. These standards are anticipated to make new homes and businesses use less water, protect wetlands and wildlife and support sustainable growth.

Rivers Release Ancient Carbon

A ground-breaking study led by the University of Bristol (and worked on by our BACP Catchment Coordinator, Jack Bishop) has uncovered that rivers are releasing ancient carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. This carbon has been locked in landscapes for thousands of years, challenging the long-held belief that river CO₂ emissions derive mainly from recent plant material.

Researchers found that over 60% of river CO₂ emissions come from long-term carbon stores, such as deep soils and weathered rocks. This discovery suggests that plants and soils are absorbing around one gigatonne more CO₂ annually than previously thought, playing a bigger role in offsetting these hidden emissions.

The study, published in Nature, analysed over 700 river sites across 26 countries, using radiocarbon dating to trace the age of carbon in river emissions. The findings suggest that the global carbon budget may need to be revised and highlights the need to better understand how human activity may be influencing this ancient carbon flow.

To read more on this, visit here.

To access the journal article, visit here.

Image credit: Nature

Riverfly Monitoring Initiative – get involved!

The Riverfly Partnership has released a new video to inspire more people to get involved with the River Monitoring Initiative (RMI). The video offers an introduction to the programme and showcases some of the fascinating aquatic invertebrates that volunteers may encounter during river sampling. It’s a great way to learn how citizen science helps protect river health, and how you can take part.

Watch the video here.