March 2025

Words from the Chair

Congratulations to Forest of Avon and all supporting partners on securing funding for the new Western Forest. This is a great achievement following a huge amount of work by many people and organisations. The Western Forest will connect the Bristol Avon catchment with the Cotswolds and Mendip Hills National Landscapes and amongst the many benefits will help increase resilience to droughts and floods.

Following years of pressure from so many concerned about fish populations in the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Avon, it is very encouraging that EDF have reverted to looking positively at the installation of an Acoustic Fish Deterrent on the huge cooling water intakes at Hinkley C nuclear power station.

Dr Richard Cresswell MBE
Chair, Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership

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Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership Fund is now always open!

We are pleased to announce that the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership Fund is now always open for applications. There will be no closing date, with applications assessed at the first available assessment panel meeting. There are currently two assessment dates this year:

• May 2025 - Applications must be submitted by Sunday 4th May 2025 23:59 to be considered at this meeting.
• October 2025 - Applications must be submitted by Monday 15th September 2025 23:59 to be considered at this meeting.

Furthermore, the Community Grants Fund now has an upper limit of £2,000. If you have an idea for a potential application, please do contact us.

For more information, please visit here.

Photo credit: Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART)

Catchment News

Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) update at Hinkley Point C Power Station

The encouraging news is that EDF have reverted to trying to comply with the existing Development Control Order (DCO) conditions and are now reviewing the potential for new and innovative acoustic fish deterrent technologies to protect fish. This, however, is a significant piece of work that will take some time to complete.

EDF said: ‘To aid the exploration of emerging technology, we have started an internal programme of work to look specifically at the potential options for deployment and, importantly, effectiveness which would have to be approved and accepted by the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies. Our goal would be to identify a system in compliance with the DCO. At such an early stage, we are yet to understand whether any future system would require additional compensation measures to be included.’

There is still concern regarding the impact on migratory fish species, including eels which would not be affected by acoustics deterrents.

Please see the response from the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust here.

Wiltshire and Swindon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)

The public consultation for the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is now live until 16th April (subject to change).

To see the live consultation draft map, visit here and the consultation document can be found here.

To find out more from Wiltshire Council about how to give feedback on the above, please visit here. Further information on the LNRS from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust can be found here.

Wild Waters Festival

The 'Wild Waters Festival' will be taking place among communities connected by a section of the Bristol River Avon, running in and between Bradford on Avon and Batheaston, in the early summer. This festival has been organised by local parish and town councils and community nature groups. This celebration of nature and community will be taking place from Saturday 31st May – Sunday 15th June 2025. Events include paddleboarding, a film screening, water quality testing, river walks and much more.

To find out more, please visit here.

Western Forest chosen to be the first new national forest

A huge new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be
Created and led by the Forest of Avon.

• A new Western Forest spanning three regions is set to be created – the first
‘national forest’ in more than 30 years spanning Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and
West of England (Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North
Somerset).
• In its first five years, the new national forest will plant at least 2,500 hectares of
new woodland and other tree habitats, with 20 million trees to be planted by
2050.
• The Western Forest will deliver landscape-scale change and real green investment in people and nature across three regions (Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the West of England). Serving over 2.5 million people, the new forest will bring a collaborative approach to nature recovery, working with landowners, businesses and local communities to make it happen.

The Western Forest will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon, one of England’s Community Forests supported by up to £7.5 million of government funding over five years. It is the result of a successful regional partnership bid led by the Forest of Avon with support from the Natural History Consortium, the region’s councils and Great Western Community Forest, with more than 40 organisations lending their support including the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership.

Wider News

New evidence of natural flood management benefits

The Environment Agency have published a new Working with Natural Processes Evidence Directory. This document contains a summary of the latest evidence for 17 natural flood management measures in relation to river and floodplain, woodland, run-off as well as coast and estuary management. The evidence shows catchment woodland to be beneficial to soil, biodiversity, water quality, access to nature as well as flood risk.

In addition, it contains a case study of Steart Marshes. The 250 hectares of saltmarsh created as compensation for coastal defence realignment measures are shown to be storing 36.6 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year.

Read more about this research here.

Flood defence investment

It has recently been announced that the Government will be investing £2.65 billion into the flood defence of properties. This funding will contribute towards the building and maintenance of flood defence measures including tidal barriers, and several flood defence schemes. This financial support is a part of the government's Plan for Change and will work towards protecting 6.3 million properties in England that are at risk of flooding

Find out more about this investment here.

Sea-Changers Coastal Fountain Fund 2025

Grants of up to £2,500 are being made available towards purchasing water drinking fountains for public use in busy or environmentally important areas. This aims to reduce single-use plastic water bottles littering coastal habitats. Applications are welcome from a wide variety of groups and entities including charities, councils, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and schools.
The application deadline is 25th April 2025.

Apply here.

Research project aims to use fungi to cut pollution

Harper Adams University and partners have received funding from DEFRA to undertake a project targeting agricultural run-off. This will involve the development of water filters that capture and neutralise phosphates and nitrates before they reach freshwater environments. The aim is for the captured nutrients to be recycled as slow-release organic fertilisers. Furthermore, locally sourced fungi will be utilised within the filters to absorb and store these pollutants.

Find out more about this research here.

Water quality monitoring investment at the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency (EA) are in the progress of enhancing their water monitoring capabilities. There will be a £4 million investment made at the Leeds Olympia House laboratory facilities, which will be funded by Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. The EA are exploring how the water quality data aid us in understanding the wider benefits of our water environment such as supporting wildlife and contributing to local communities and the economy.

Managing forest operations to protect the water environment

A practice guide has been produced by the Forestry Commission providing advice to forest managers, practitioners, planners and supervisors, on how forest operations should be planned and managed to protect the water environment. This guide will ensure that any forest operations will comply with the UK Forestry Standard Guidelines on Forests and Water.

Find more information and download a copy of the guide here.

The management and creation of woodland for biodiversity and wider environmental benefits

A research article by the Forestry Commission has been created to summarise current evidence on the relationship between woodland management and creation, and biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and key environmental benefits on a landscape scale.

Read more and download the article here.

A new wetland improving water quality in the River Frome, Herefordshire

Photo credit: The Rivers Trust

Through partnership working and collaboration between Lidl GB, The Rivers Trust, The Wye and Usk Foundation, and a local farmer, a new wetland has been created connecting two pools of water within an agricultural field. The wetland will provide a biodiverse habitat for many different species, as well as increase the water capacity during high rainfall events. It is estimated that 10 Olympic sized swimming pools worth of water will pass and filter through the wetland before it reaches the River Frome, Herefordshire.

Discover more about this project here.

Environmental contamination by veterinary antibiotics

A recent study indicates that veterinary antibiotics are causing environmental contamination and harming freshwater and saltwater wildlife; both the original antibiotics and substances evolving from their breakdown are harmful. The presence of antibiotics was found in a varied range of aquatic environments across Europe including sewage treatment plant effluent, influent, hospital/industrial effluent and surface water.

Nature-based solutions on freshwater environments

The Environment Agency have published a scientific report on the effectiveness of nature-based solutions on river catchments. The report discusses the positive impact that nature-based solutions have on water quality, flood risk management and biodiversity, mostly around agricultural areas. It also highlights the importance of using the right interventions in the best places, as well as the importance of maintaining and managing them.

Severn Tidings Magazine - Celebrating 30 Years of Partnership

The winter edition of the 2024/2025 Severn Tidings magazine has been published, celebrating 30 years of the Severn Estuary Partnership. The magazine features details on the Severn Estuary Biosecurity Plan, their position statement on large-scale infrastructure projects, saltmarsh restoration, the Vale Coastal project and more.

Download the full magazine here.

First river in England set to have legal rights

With assistance from the Environmental Law Foundation, Lewes District Council have agreed to recognise the rights of the River Ouse in Sussex. This is following successful models in other countries where the river has been recognised as a living entity with intrinsic rights to exist, flow and be free of pollution.