The River Restoration Centre (RRC) awards the UK River Prize to celebrate the achievements of those individuals and organisations working to restore our rivers and catchments, recognising the benefits of having a healthy natural environment.
One of four finalist, the Ullswater Catchment Restoration Partnership, is led by the National Trust and Ullswater Catchment Management Community Interest Company and supported by partners such as the Cumbria River Restoration Strategy.
Working to restore habitats around Ullswater since Storm Desmond in 2015, the partnership has delivered 282 individual projects, resulting in 843ha of habitat restoration. Projects include over 13km of river restoration, 46ha of pond creation, over 16km of hedgerow creation and significant areas of wood pasture, peat and wetland restoration. The work aims to restore habitats for people and nature, wrapping the communities of Ullswater in a resilient landscape.
Rebecca Powell, National Trust Project Manager, says: ‘It’s fantastic to be recognised for the work we have been doing together in Ullswater. The key to our success so far has been working together with the local community, farmers and other partners. We really believe in regenerative agriculture and we aim to put farmers at the heart of our projects. Ullswater is an example of how you can have natural rivers, thriving wildlife habitats and farming existing happily together for the benefit of everyone involved.’
Danny and Maddy Teasdale, Ullswater Catchment Management CIC, say: ‘We are delighted to have reached the finals of the river prize and are very proud of our working relationship with the National Trust, which we feel shows what is possible when we strike the right balance of farming, river restoration and nature recovery.’
The 2024 UK River Prize winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, North Wales on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
