Rivers on the Edge is a 6 minute film commissioned by WWF and produced by Charles Rangeley-Wilson, well known presenter of TV series The Accidental Angler.
The film focuses on what Charles refers to as “the ultimate rivers” – English chalk streams. It aims to make the link between the water we use in our homes and the natural world. It highlights what’s special about chalk streams and how water efficiency can play a big part in helping to conserve them.
Chalk stream, like the River Avon, are unique to southern Britain and northern France. They are under threat from today’s increased demands for water and the growing impacts of climate change.
The film, and the WWF campaign of the same name, reminds everyone that simple steps to reduce our water use in the home can help save these unique rivers – along with the abundance of native wildlife they support.
As Charles says, these rivers are ours to look after – they’re our rainforest, our glaciers.
England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSDFI) is a project that was launched in April 2006, funded by Defra and delivered by the Environment Agency and Natural England. There are 50 priority catchments in England, where we are working with farmers to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture. The Avon is one of these catchments.
The non-regulatory initiative is both free and confidential, working towards improving the environment and farm business by offering advice and incentives to promote changes in management practises – in the last 3 years £486,000 has been spent on capital grants items such as water course fencing, clean and dirty water separation in farm yards and roofing stock yards and manure storage areas in the Avon catchment.
Workshops held this year have been focusing on improving soil structure in arable fields to reduce soil run-off, this help prevent siltation and nutrient enrichment of the Avon. ECSFDI through a number of specialist one to one visits and soil sampling we are helping farmers take into account nutrients available in the soil and organic manures and balancing this with the need of the crop.
We have now heard from Martin, our man in Brisbane, Australia, that the Living River became a runner up for the Thiess International Riverprize. The first prize went to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority in Canada – a project that aims to restore and protect the environmental health and quality of Lake Simcoe and its watershed with community, municipal and other government partners.
As you might know from the last blog, the Living River together with its sister project STREAM were recently shortlisted for this prestigious prize. The competition recognizes and showcases excellence in river management with nominees all demonstrating leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainability. We were competing against four other projects: on the Yellow River in China, Lake Simcoe in Canada, the Polochic Basin in Guatemala and the Lower Owens River in the USA
Although we didn’t become first we feel that having been shortlisted for this international prize is a great recognition of the Living River and STREAM projects’ achievements and river management practices. Martin will also have the opportunity to meet the other finalists in Brisbane, to build some networks and exchange knowledge and experiences.
So overall it is a big success story and we are very proud of our trophy as a finalist.
We are extremely excited that the Living River Project together with its sister project STREAM has reached the final of the Thiess International Riverprize. The prestigious prize is a competition which showcases excellence in river management with nominees all demonstrating leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainability. The announcement of the winner and prize giving is on the 22nd of September. Martin Gilchrist, the Living River Project Officer, is in Brisbane at the moment, waiting for the big moment. We will keep you posted – so watch this space.
For more info see www.riverfoundation.org.au
Grey heron eat mainly fish and feed close to the bank or shore, sometimes wading into shallower water. The grey heron is the largest of european heron, and is quite a solitary bird. They stalk their prey, standing motionless for quite long periods of time.
