In January 2002, the Trust won £1.8 million through the Objective One partnership in Cornwall. This money was awarded to us to deliver a large-scale integrated catchment management project, which would produce improved habitat throughout 10 key rivers, and as a result, deliver significant economic benefit to Cornwall. The project focused on achieving improved riverine habitat by positively influencing land management. The aim was to restore lengths of river corridor and reduce or eliminate the effects of excess nutrient leaching, sedimentation and reduced water quality by tackling these problems at source, i.e. on the land. The Trust targeted 670 farms and land holdings which had river frontage and decided to deliver bespoke integrated management plans for each individual which would not only produce huge environmental restoration and protection, but would lake this sustainable by improving the economic value of the river, to those holdings.

Carved otter bench installed in Enfield Park, Camelford	Sheep

With only a few months to go now until the end of this Cornwall Rivers Project, the advice and grant aid we are able to offer is being well received on farms. Well over 540 farms and landholdings have now been visited within the 10 major river catchments which range from those draining from the heights of Bodmin Moor right down to the Fal River in the west of the county.

Advice has been wide ranging, but continues to focus on the importance of optimising resources for the benefit of both the river and farm as a business. Fertiliser optimisation, soil management, yard water handling and raising awareness of pollution pathways to watercourses are some of the main issues commonly addressed. Over 10 new Cornish beats have been added to the highly successful Angling 2000 scheme; these should bring a welcome modest income for the landowners and an extra incentive for managing riverbanks sympathetically.

The project is charged with meeting a variety of targets by September this year. We are well on track with delivery of farm-specific management plans, with 140 left to go, have given advice on a land area in excess of 34,000 hectares, and are in the process of installing the last few of the 7 demonstration sites. Signage has already been mounted in Enfield Park in Camelford, at Golitha Falls and Shell Woods and these are an excellent resource which can educate people about the importance of the river, and indeed water in general as they are walking or cycling past.

Grant aid has now been paid for over 70km of fencing along sections of vulnerable river bank, and several erosion control structures, soil run-off interceptors and diverters have also been installed. There is still a limited amount of funds available for further grant aided works, but it is going fast!

To make analysis of the project easier and more visual, all relevant information, such as the completed fencing and other grant aided works, are entered digitally into a Geographical Information System held at the Trust’s offices. By delineating an area of the map, it is possible to see where works have taken place and to examine the impacts of land management styles. We have worked hard to ensure that the reporting and modelling facilities generated by the project are as useful as possible and can be expolited in many different ways, however, we do of course always respect the fact that our work with landowners is confidential, and thus any information which they give us is only used in summary format.

GIS output showing rivers & farms visited so far under CRP

With 4 full time and 3 part time advisors still working on the project, the on-the-ground advice and help is still available until September, when the team will complete the project. We feel that one of our greatest assets as a Trust is that whilst we do a lot of work on education and contributing to policy, we have always had “wet feet”. This means that we have actually done this work that we talk about on the ground, this project being a great example. Therefore, we can confidently teach others how to move towards equitable and sustainable solutions to some of our environmental problems and thus maximise the value of all donations and grants made to the Trust. Every penny that we receive, be it from EU funds or donations from local individuals, is spent on conservation, protection and restoration of fragile habitats and in the case of Cornwall Rivers Project, the funds have achieved a truly outstanding result.