This week, I returned to RSPB Haweswater in the Lake District to see the final stages of the river restoration in Swindale Beck – a tributary of the River Eden. It was a real pleasure to be able to stand alongside our partners in United Utilities and the Environment Agency as water was diverted into a new channel which had been specially designed to restore conditions of a naturally meandering river.
The project will be good for wildlife but also for people as it will improve water quality whilst also slowing the flow of water leaving the valley – an important part in any flood prevention strategy.
Swindale Beck river restoration (image courtesy of David Morris)
A large part of the river was straightened at least 200 years ago to open up land for grazing and hay making but this change has caused problems for Atlantic salmon (a species whose population has halved since 1970s but one that is protected under the EU Habitat and Species Directive) as the old straightened and fast flowing channel does not provide the different habitats normally found in naturally meandering rivers which are important for spawning.
The new river will be broad and shallow thereby slowing down the flow of water – especially important in times of floods. Our landlords, United Utilities are especially keen as sediments and gravels will be deposited more naturally with less reaching the Haweswater reservoir which provides drinking water for 2 million people in the north west of England.
The old channel will be filled in to create a more suitable and productive meadow and support the farm operations as well as providing a home for wildlife.
The profile of natural flood management solutions was raised in the wake of last winter’s terrible floods in Cumbria and so, as a tenant in one of the important river catchments, we are keen to manage our land in ways that retains water for longer. We need more projects like ours at Swindale Beck and my hope is that this one will catalyse others in the Lakes and further afield.
There are a few ingredients necessary to make this happen.
First, we need to retain the legislative obligation to restore species like Atlantic salmon.
Second, as we review agriculture support grants in the wake of Brexit, we need to find ways to reward landowners for managing their land in ways that benefit wildlife and water.
Third, we need to make it is easy for people and organisations to come together behind a shared vision to have the inspiration to transform landscapes.
I look to Defra and the soon to be published 25 year plan for the environment to provide renewed political momentum to make this happen. For now though, huge congratulations to all those involved in the project.
What a fantastic project, martin - and what an impressive photo. You are absolutely right about the need to accelerate this thinking & making it happen - too often projects like this are seen as good, but quaint and limited. The key here - that we have been speeding water off the land in this case for 200 years - is crucial; most people aren't even aware of the £100s of millions spent on drainage between c1950 and 1970, which didn't just increase peak flows but allowed large areas that once soaked up the flood to be upgraded to arable, with farmers demanding protection from flooding.
Three important things: first, our approach to land use is dangerously sectoral, stressing maximisation of one benefit, whether farming, conservation or water. As here, we must start looking for multiple benefits.
Second, its not an either or - land management versus hard defences, in the case of flooding. These are both tools to achieve an end and we've seen how hard defences on their own have failed under pressure
Third, look at the Natural Capital Committee work because it isn't all about spending money; with flood losses averaging well over £1 billion per annum, water quality costing £800 million, there are real opportunities to save rather than spend money - whilst making people safer and benefitting wildlife.
Great work. Managing public perception must be an important part of this, it's important that all actors, including NT get this right, otherwise overall progress could be slowed.
An interesting project. More needs to be done to improve the resilience of the Cumbrian landscape to heavy rain.