CONTENTS 

DIRECTORS COMMENTS 3

TRUST NEWS 4

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT:

A FORMULA FOR FISHERIES 6

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT:

EXE PROJECT ANGLING PASSPORT 8

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT:

GET ON YOUR BIKE GO FISHING 10

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT:

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT VISION 12

SPECIAL FEATURE:

ECOSYSTEMS SERVICE OUR NEEDS 14

FROM THE RIVER 21

FUNDRAISING NEWS 22

WRT DIGITAL 23

Cover Photo: A woodland river in Devon (iStockPhoto).

Editor: Nick Paling

Contributors: Dylan Bright, Laurence Couldrick, Bruce Stockley,

Stephen Pryor, Hazel Kendall, Nick Paling, Viv Daly, Ray Gordon,

Derrick Jones, Andrew Pym and Simon Steer.

© Copyright: Westcountry Rivers Trust, 2011.

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of

the Westcountry Rivers Trust or the trustees thereof and

responsibility cannot be accepted for opinions herein. Whilst

advertising is welcomed, such advertising and/or logos do not

constitute Westcountry Rivers Trust endorsements of the products,

services or companies involved.

The Westcountry Rivers Trust is a registered charitable limited 

company (Charity No: 1135007, Company No: 06545646).

Printed by

A sunny summer day on the Devon Avon 

 

COMMENT 

Beans & bugs: can we assess the value of our ecosystems?

3

What is the difference between an economist and an ecologist ?

One counts beans and the other counts bugs, traditionally.

Flippancy aside, it is interesting to note that the word economy has

the same root meaning as the word ecology from the Greek word

oikos, meaning house. Furthermore, both can be defined as the

‘study of consequence’ ‐ one is the study of natural interactions

and their consequences while the other is the study of fiscal

interactions and their consequences. We are now starting to

realize that the two sets of consequences are intimately bound

together. In recent years our society has really started to value

nature, not just philosophically and aesthetically but also

financially. Mediated by this societal pressure in this modern age,

ecologists are now increasingly finding themselves working more

closely with economists to achieve their conservation goals.

We (society) benefit from many resources and processes which are

delivered by a natural, functioning environment. These benefits

are known as ‘ecosystem services’ and include products such as

clean drinking water and processes such as the decomposition of

wastes and the regulation of the climate.

These services have been identified and discussed for decades, but

only recently has the terminology been formalised and made

popular by the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

This four‐year study, involving thousands of scientists sought to

audit the abundance and health of these services across the world.

The study grouped ecosystem services into four broad categories:

provisioning, such as the production of food and water; regulating,

such as the control of disease and flooding; supporting, such as

nutrient cycles and crop pollination; and cultural, such as historic

and recreational benefits.

The findings showed that nearly all of these services, upon which

we are completely reliant, are critically degraded and that we

need, as a society, to start taking account of the full impact our

actions have on them in all the decisions we make.

This seems to be an impossibly complex task, but at the

Westcountry Rivers Trust we have, in collaboration with our

partners, already started to identify, quantify and economically

value the services arising from river catchments. To achieve this

we have developed maps of current ecosystem service provision

and compared them with another showing the optimal provision

of ecosystem services in an idealised landscape. The difference

between these maps highlights areas that are not being optimally

used or are damaged with regard to their service provision.

These analyses have enabled us to work with the local community

and local businesses that benefit from good quality environmental

services and, in some cases, we have been able to prove that it is

more cost‐effective to protect and restore the environment than

continuing to pay more as a result of a service being degraded. For

example, it is an estimated 65 times more cost‐effective for the

regional water company to work with farmers and landowners

and fund catchment restoration to improve the quality of river

water than it is for the water company to fund the cleaning of that

water after it is taken out of the river. Furthermore, this approach

will not only improve the water quality in the river, but also create

whole rafts of additional benefits to the environment.

In this issue we will look at some of the other new and developing

economic mechanisms for funding environmental protection and

restoration which enable private investment in the environment

by recognising the value of nature.

Dr Dylan Bright Trust Director

WRT staff receive RIVPACS invertebrate sampling training 

 

TRUST NEWS 

4

Spring is in full swing 

Dylan Bright addresses Chinese delegation 

Laurence receives his award 

Hard summer gives way to a fruitful autumn WHILE  THE  WEATHER  HAS  MADE  IT  A  HARD  SUMMER  FOR  FARMERS,  FISHERMEN  AND  HOLIDAYMAKERS  IN  THE 

WESTCOUNTRY THIS YEAR,  IT HAS BEEN A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR THE WESTCOUNTRY RIVERS TRUST. AFTER YEARS OF 

HARD GRAFT IT SEEMS WE ARE STARTING TO GET SOME RECOGNITION FOR WORK WE HAVE DONE TO PROTECT RIVERS.  

After years of campaigning and action it seems we are starting to win some recognition for work we are doing to protect and enhance

the Westcountry’s fantastic rivers. The Strategic Evidence and Partnership Project (see Confluence 12, p 15) will be presented to the

DEFRA Chief Scientist Professor Bob Watson in November and earlier in the summer Richard Benyon MP met with executives of South

West Water, Westcountry Rivers Trust, the Association of Rivers Trusts and local farmers at Bicton College in Devon. The aim of the

meeting was to develop greater understanding of the collaborative work between organisations and landowners on river catchment

projects in the South West.  

 

The DEFRA Minister spoke with farm managers, Paul Redmore from

the Bicton Estate and George Perrott of Clinton Devon Estates, who

are participating in the Upstream Thinking initiative developed by

South West Water, the Westcountry Rivers Trust and their partners.

The Upstream Thinking initiative aims to improve raw water quality

and all ecological aspects of the region’s rivers. It is a fundamental

change in how water resources are managed in the UK.

‘South West Water is keen to work closely with DEFRA to achieve 

common goals and strengthen relationships. The Upstream Thinking 

initiative will improve water quality and should help to reduce the cost 

of water treatment before supply.’  

Chris Loughlin, Chief Executive, South West Water  

An autumn morning in the Cornish countryside 

Ministerial meeting (L‐R: Martin Ross, Chris Loughlin, 

Richard Benyon, Dylan Bright and Arlin Rickard. 

 

TRUST NEWS 

Rare sightings more than just fishy tales OUR WORK TO REMOVE OBSTACLES TO FISH MIGRATION AND  IMPROVE WATER QUALITY  IN WESTCOUNTRY RIVERS HAS HAD 

THE SUREST INDICATION OF SUCCESS SO FAR.  

First, in July 2011 a pair of sea lamprey were sighted and filmed spawning upstream of the new fish friendly boulder ramp, built to replace

the now disused ‘Head Weir’ on the River Taw in Devon. The cavorting Lamprey were spotted and filmed by local fishermen, Maurice Dyer

and Jon Jonik.

Sea lamprey and Atlantic salmon are examples of fish species that breed in rivers, migrate to sea to grow into large adults and then return

to the same rivers in which they were born, to breed again. These two species have very high conservation status, equivalent to some of

the rarest birds and mammals in the UK, so it is fantastic to see such a tangible indication of the success of this conservation work.

The prevalence of weir building during the industrial revolution to harness water‐power caused many rivers to become fragmented

habitats for migratory species, greatly limiting their range and their abundance. Recent funding received from DEFRA via the Association

of Rivers Trusts, targeted to deliver the EU Water Framework Directive, has facilitated a great deal of work to remove redundant obstacles

in order to reconnect the river.

The Head Weir Project, completed in October 2010, was the brain‐child of the River Taw Fishing Association and the Westcountry Rivers

Trust, as part of the Taw Access over Weirs Project. The project was funded and delivered by these organisations in close collaboration

with, and with huge support from, the Environment Agency.

5

“Removing obstacles to the natural migration of wildlife species is one of the 

most important things we can do to give nature a helping hand. Until its recent 

removal through this innovative community collaboration, the weir had 

presented a major blockage to fish and other species wanting to migrate and 

breed upstream.”   Arlin Rickard, CEO, The Rivers Trust

Also in July this year, there was further excitement when increased numbers

of the rare Allis Shad were again reported in the lower reaches of the River

Tamar. Allis shad are migratory fish from the Herring family which were

once present in our estuaries and rivers in huge numbers but which, in recent

times, have become extremely rare in the UK. Now, thanks to significant

improvements in water quality and reductions in the impact of netting in the

estuary they appear to be returning to the rivers of the South West.

New genetic analyses are tipping the scales 

The Westcountry Rivers Trust is working with academics at the University of Exeter

through our Atlantic Aquatic Resource Conservation Project (AARC) to study the

genetics of our resident Brown and migratory Sea Trout. The aim of the work is to

inform the management of their stocks in southern Britain. Our ultimate aim is to

improve our understanding of the marine phase of the Sea Trout life cycle.

Throughout the Westcountry and beyond, anglers and Environment Agency

sampling teams who have caught brown and sea trout have taken a small scale

sample and posted it back to us in a special envelope. These scales are then sent to

Exeter where DNA analysis can tell us about the health of the fish stocks in the river

system and how the different populations are related to each other.

For more information email Bruce Stockley on bruce@wrt.org.uk

Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) 

 

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 

A FORMULA FOR FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT OUR  FORMULA  FOR  FISHERIES MANAGEMENT HAS DEVELOPED OVER  THE  LAST  TWO DECADES  AND  TODAY FORMS  AN  ACTION‐ORIENTATED  APPROACH  THAT  IS  BASED  UPON  ANSWERING  THE  ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE USED TO DIRECT OUR WORKS ON RIVERS. 

The Westcountry Rivers Trust’s approach

to fisheries management has evolved

through interaction with various

individuals and agencies, both within the

UK and beyond, but perhaps the greatest

single influence has been that of Ronald

Campbell from the Tweed Foundation.

This action‐focused approach allows

volunteer and professional organisations

of various types and sizes, with a range of

budgets, to take informed decisions that

lead to both delivery on the ground as well

as an increase in our collective knowledge.

Looking at the flow diagram on the next

page, the focus of our efforts is on the

right‐hand side of the diagram ‐ the

analysis, information and the questions

themselves are all directed to the goal of

knowing what is likely to be the most

effective action we can take on the rivers.

This systematic approach seeks to gather

the essential data to make an informed

decision as to what is the best action. It

takes the view that the worst action we

can take is no action, and that, provided

the risks are low, we are better taking

action based on imperfect data than

waiting to get the whole in‐depth picture.

This is the correct interpretation of the

precautionary principle.

In order to manage fish stocks WRT

considers three basic questions:

1. How many fish populations are there in a 

catchment? 

2. What habitat is available for fish at 

various stages of their life cycle? 

3. What is the status of these populations at 

the moment?  

How many fish Populations are there? 

This fundamental question has slowly

come to the fore over the last few

decades. Only recently has the genetic

technology matured enough to answer

this question in a reliable and affordable

manner that can be applied on a

catchment‐wide basis. It is very hard to  

attempt to manage fish populations if it is not

known how many of them are in a

catchment. This is best demonstrated by the

‘weak population problem’ as described in

Box 1 (right). Once we know the stock

structure of the river we can manage it with

much more confidence and effectiveness. For

example we may realise that the weak stock

can be restored by the removal of a barrier to

migration and it might be worthwhile to

prioritise that barrier removal over other

activities. This is a clear case of seemingly

complex genetic science leading to concrete

action on the ground.

 

 

 

What habitat is available for fish at various 

stages of their life cycle? 

All fish species require a variety of different

habitat types at different stages of their life

cycle. However, the issue is of particular

importance to migratory fish such as Salmon

and Sea Trout as their life stages are many,

and the habitats they use are hugely varied

over their lifetime development. Every river is

unique; it has different amounts and

arrangements of pools, spawning gravels,

riffles for fry and deeper habitat for parr. If we

carry out rapid habitat walkover surveys

(which can be conducted by Trust staff and

also by trained volunteer groups) then we can

build up a picture of the quirks of our river.

Maybe it has lots of spawning gravel but this

is mostly silted up and unusable, or perhaps

there is plenty of spawning and fry habitat,

but very little habitat suitable for the

maturation of parr.

Once we know this information our

management actions can be well focused to

achieve maximum impact with the resources

we have available.

What is the status of these populations at 

the moment? 

Substantial effort is already being made to

monitor the status of fish populations on

many rivers. This effort includes the use of

fish counters, tagging studies, electro

fishing, rod catches, log books etc. and much

of this data is published by the Environment

Agency to report nationally and

internationally. Detailed examination of the

‘exploitation rate’ of a fishery, that is to say

the proportion of the fish that are caught on

a river, is of particular importance when

trying to asses the health of the stock.

We then take this data and combine it with

our own, such as rapid semi‐quantitative

electrofishing to assess the current state of

the fish stocks.

Realism 

It is clear that we do not have conclusive

answers to the three questions above for all

our catchments (though we are getting close

for Salmon on some of our catchments, e.g.

the River Exe). It is therefore appealing to

respond in the immortal phrase ‘more

research is needed’. However, taking the

approach 'the worst action is no action', that

response is not an option for us. It would lead

to us standing by whilst we monitor decline –

most definitely not the approach of a Rivers

Trust.

Our constructive approach to this situation is

to act simultaneously on all fronts (most

importantly we will take the actions as

described on the diagram overleaf) based on

the best evidence we have whilst,

simultaneously, we will gather and analyse

the relevant information from the middle of

the diagram to guide this action. As we take

action, we are able to gather more

information which promotes more and

better‐focused action on the catchment. It is

this learning cycle of action, information and

analysis that is our formula for fisheries

improvement.

Genetic diversity is the anvil upon which natural selection  

      forges a species ability to cope with the future  

6

 

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 

BOX 1 The ‘weak population’ problem  

Imagine a river with three Salmon

populations in it. They do not breed much

with each other, but live next to each

other in different tributaries of our

imaginary river.

The first population is made up of about

500 fish, the second population 450 fish

and the third 30 fish. The third stock is our

‘weak population’.

Now imagine that we set nets on the

bottom of our river and each year we semi

‐randomly select returning fish from the

different stocks. Normally this does not

cause a problem, but, given enough time,  

there may come a year when the third

population is unlucky and a large proportion

of its returning fish will be caught: worse

still, it may be that many of the females

from that population are caught. This

random over fishing of the third population

could easily be enough to tip it into terminal

decline, and if we have not done our

homework and found out that there are

three populations there then we could

easily make that stock extinct and never

know it.

You may be asking why do local populations

matter? They matter because fish

populations that are genetically

different are likely to have adapted to

their particular river or tributary, and so

they represent a reservoir of ‘genetic

diversity’ which acts as our insurance

policy against risks in our changing

world.

Our imaginary third population may just

be the one that contains the genes

necessary for UK salmon to survive

global warming – but we will never

know this because it was wiped out by

our lack of knowledge of the population

structure of our rivers.

Schematic showing how our formula for fisheries improvement integrates different monitoring 

approaches to assess the condition of the fish stocks and then target and tailor our actions   

 

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 

NEW GENERATIONS ARE KEY ON THE EXE THE RIVER EXE PROJECT IS A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF A GRASS‐ROOTS CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION INITI‐ATIVE. NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR THE PROJECT CONTINUES TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.  

A joint initiative of the River Exe and

Tributaries Association (RETA) and the

Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT), the River

Exe Project has two aims: protecting,

restoring and enhancing salmon habitat in

the River Exe catchment, and educating

children about river conservation to

ensure that salmon in the Exe will be

protected long into the future.

The River Exe Salmon in the Classroom

Project, with support from the Water

Project, the Exmoor National Park

Authority’s Sustainable Development

Fund and the River Exe and Tributaries

Association, has just completed its third

successful year. During the past three years,

over 350 pupils from the primary schools of

Exford, Cutcombe and Uplowman, along

with those from Blundell’s Preparatory

School and Dulverton Middle School have

been involved in the project.

As an introduction to rivers and wildlife, the

children investigate the water quality of their

local river where their salmon will be released

by looking at the invertebrates living there.

Our ‘River Detectives’ have been delighted to

find that the water quality is very good, as

shown by the abundant numbers of species

such as stonefly and mayfly, which are

known to be very intolerant of organic

pollution. Satisfied that the river is in good

condition, the children then eagerly await

the arrival of their own salmon eggs which,

having grown to the ‘eyed stage’, are soon

ready to be transported from the Exebridge

hatchery. Just weeks after their arrival the

eggs hatch and 3‐4 weeks later they emerge

as swim‐up fry ready to be released into the

rivers Haddeo and Lowman at Easter time.

 

Late Season has more appeal

Having said this, while the salmon and sea trout were all but absent from the upper

reaches of most rivers this summer, there have still been some very good catches of trout

taken by stealthy fisherman. With the riffles and pools reduced to very low flows the fish

were very easy to spook, but with a careful approach using small flies and light tippets the

fish were catchable.

One great example of the success of a light‐touch approach is Ben Garnett who took and

returned a sea trout of 3lb and over twenty trout in just one July afternoon on the lower

reaches of the River Lynher. Another is Mr Tyzack who enjoyed a scorching hot July day,

taking over twenty five trout from the South Yeo. Perhaps the most fish were caught

using the ‘New Zealand’ style, a simple but very effective method that involves

presenting two flies, a dry fly and a nymph, on the same leader.

Although fishing has been tough over the summer, there have been some fantastic

reports of wildlife including otters, kingfisher and deer with people generally enjoying

spending time on the beats. As someone once said, ‘there is more to fishing than

catching fish’. One fisherman even commented that his day fishing on Dartmoor was one

of his best all round fishing experiences ever!

So after an early summer dominated by low

flow conditions, the beginning of August saw

the arrival of some more rain and by the time

of writing in September, following a

prolonged wet spell at the start of the

month, we began to see the first signs of

salmon and sea trout arriving in the

Westcountry’s rivers with a grilse of 4lb and

two peal of 1.25lb and 1.5lb caught at

Sydenham on the 7th September.

9

In addition to educating our next generation

about salmon, the Exe Project has worked

with the Environment Agency and its other

partners to deliver a huge amount of survey

and restoration work this year. In August the

Trust completed their fisheries habitat

walkover survey of the River Barle between

Withypool and Dulverton, which gave us

vital and detailed evidence to target and

inform our restoration activities. In addition,

our electrofishing surveys in 2010 and 2011

have shown good numbers of salmon fry in

many parts of the Upper Exe catchment.

Trout also showed an improvement with

good numbers found in the upper reaches of

the rivers and streams surveyed.

Salmon parr 

After a very warm and dry spring, early summer was just as dry on

the Westcountry’s rivers, with fishermen, farmers and gardeners all

praying for rain for much of May, June and July. There were some

small spates during the summer months, but they went down so

quickly the fishing did not really benefit.

 

Over

For more information on the Head Weir

project please contact info@wrt.org.uk

smooth‐reason for there being a weir on the

site).

10

Derrick has been a loyal supporter of the Westcountry Angling Passport scheme and its concept for many years so when he

told us of his plans we thought it was a brilliant idea. To show our appreciation of his endeavour WRT

invited him to finish his trip with a pasty and a beer at our office in the Tamar valley. The following

is Derrick’s own story of his three‐day trip which began at his house near South Molton in Devon.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 

GET ON YOUR BIKE   GO FISHING WHEN DERRICK JONES, AVID FLY FISHERMAN, CASTING INSTRUCTOR   LOCAL GUIDE, CONTACTED THE TRUST TO SAY HE WAS GOING TO SPEND A FEW DAYS FISHING OUR PASSPORT BEATS WE DIDN’T THINK IT UNUSUAL. WHAT WE DIDN’T KNOW WAS THAT HE WOULD BE RIDING A HEAVILY LADEN BIKE   CAMPING IN A BIVVY!  

Keeping abreast of the news in the papers or on our televisions at the moment, it is very easy to

become depressed. A faltering economy, ever increasing fuel costs, in fact ever increasing costs

for just about everything. It is enough to make you want a holiday, preferably a fishing holiday.

And there’s the catch, your average fishing break is costing more these days. So at times like

this it pays to be a little more imaginative when you sit down to plan your next escape.

With this in mind, this summer I sat down with the Westcountry

Angling Passport beat brochure and a road atlas to plan

this year’s fishing holiday. The Angling Passport scheme

offers fantastically varied fishing throughout Devon and

Cornwall at a very reasonable price and I spent an

enjoyable evening perusing the brochure and selecting

five interesting looking beats to investigate. These beats

are linked by a network of B roads and tiny country lanes,

through the heart of the beautiful Devon countryside and

what better way can there be to explore this wonderful

environment than on a bicycle?

With the route planned and the time off secured all

that remained was to buy my Westcountry

Angling Passport tokens and work out

how to attach two rods, chest waders,

tent, sleeping bag and 5 days‐worth

of food to my trusty bike.

I set off in early July to cycle over

150 miles through Devon and

Cornwall in just five days, fishing

a different river each day.

As my journey unfolded, what really

surprised me was the variety of fishing that

can be found within a relatively small distance.

On the River Culm in Devon (number 2 on the map),

the Champerhaies beat is a low lying river running

through rich pasture, where you have a chance of

dace, roach, chub and even pike in addition to the

ever‐present brown trout. The trout in the Culm

are bright silver with buttery yellow bellies and

grow well in their relatively rich ecosystem.

In stark contrast to the Culm, the Cherrybrook is

a tiny upland stream on the very top of Dartmoor

(number 7 on the map) where I fished for small, but

feisty trout stained dark to suit the peaty environment

they inhabit. Another very different experience was fishing the

Map showing 

Derrick’s 150 mile 

route across the 

Westcountry 

 11

Further Information 

When not working full time for HM

Coastguard, Derrick runs Adventure

Fly Fishing UK; a company that

offers fly casting tuition and guiding

throughout the country with an

emphasis on giving people

adventurous fishing experiences.

To find out more about Derrick’s fly fishing adventures

visit his website at www.adventureflyfishinguk.co.uk.

To find out more about the Westcountry Angling

Passport scheme visit ‐ www.westcountryangling.com.

The Westcountry Rivers Trust’s Angling Passport is part

of Country Sports South West Project, which aims to

promote all country sport activities and holidays across

South West England through its new website ‐

www.countrysportssouthwest.co.uk.

crystal clear water of the beautiful River Inny which dances over the river’s rocky bed. Here you

can find grayling in addition to the trout and, in response to freshwater, there is always the

chance that a salmon or sea trout could be encountered.

It really was an eye opener just how the nature of these rivers varied and also therefore

the fishing. I caught trout on a deeply fished nymph

on the Culm, on a tiny aphid imitating dry fly

on the Little Dart, on a streamer on the

River Torridge ahead of the arrival of a

large spate, on a big black dry fly flicked

ahead of me on the Cherrybrook and on

New Zealand rig tactics on the Inny.

Having described the differences between

these rivers, it should be said that there

were many similarities as well. All five rivers

looked to be in rudest of health. I saw kingfishers,

often considered to be a good barometer for the

health of a river system, on four of the five rivers,

including watching one on the River Culm

catch a fish and return to its perch to eat it,

from just a few feet away. I also

encountered foxes, roe deer, buzzards

and dippers whilst fishing and enjoyed

some stunning views, glorious

sunsets and tumultuous weather.

So, after five days on the road, I

finished my trip with a pasty and a

pint with the staff of the Westcountry

Rivers Trust before spending a final few

hours down along the River Inny.

I returned from my holiday feeling refreshed (ok, apart from

my tired legs) and suitably virtuous. I had enjoyed a fantastic

fishing holiday and yet spent very little money. I had burnt

very little carbon, but a fair few calories and, in fishing

Westcountry Angling Passport beats, I have helped the

Westcountry Rivers Trust in their work to preserve and

enhance the very environment that I had enjoyed so much.

So next time you are looking for a great holiday, why not

plan your very own Westcountry Rivers fishing tour?

The Westcountry Rivers Trust retains its passionate belief 

that our rivers are a wonderful natural resource that 

should be protected and managed for the benefit of 

everyone. By working with angling associations, wildlife 

groups and farmers to improve the river corridor, while at 

the same time helping land‐owners and river owners 

market their fishing, we believe that we have developed a 

fisheries management scheme that both improves our 

rivers health and gives people an affordable and pleasant 

way to enjoy them.   

M. Szczepanek 

 

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT 

OUR CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH IT IS CLEAR THAT IF, AS A SOCIETY, WE WANT TO GET THE MOST FROM OUR NATURAL LANDSCAPES AND BENE‐FIT FROM ALL OF THE SERVICES THEY CAN PROVIDE, WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE USE THE LAND SO THAT ALL OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS ARE PROTECTED. 

The population of Britain, driven by our

great agricultural and industrial

revolutions, has exploded from just 10

million in 1800 to nearly 60 million today

and, while there can be little doubt that

the huge improvements we have seen in

our healthcare and living standards have

offered us a wonderful opportunity to

enjoy ever longer and more fruitful lives,

we now know that this period of relative

prosperity has come to us at a great cost.

In achieving all that we have, it is now

clear that we have done so at the expense

of our natural environment and the

resources it provides. As our numbers

have swelled we have demanded ever

more food, fuel and water from our

environment and yet we have done almost

nothing to protect the ecosystems that

provide these services. We rely on our

natural landscapes to provide for and

protect us (and they are a vital part of our

heritage, our culture and our daily lives),

but we have ravaged them without a

thought for what damage we are doing.

In recent decades we have, with varying

degrees of success, adopted a number of

different approaches to the restoration and

conservation of our increasingly degraded

natural environments.

Regulation is the process by which

Government agencies enforce national and

European legislation developed to protect

the environment from damaging human

impacts. Regulation, often referred to as the

‘polluter pays’ principle, is a vital tool for the

protection of the environment and has

achieved huge success in reducing the

occurrence of severe pollution and other

damage being done to our natural

ecosystems. This approach has, however,

proved to be less effective in mitigating the

effects of diffuse, chronic pollution or other

impacts that cause the slow degradation of

natural ecosystems.

The traditional conservation approach,

sometimes referred to as ‘fortress

conservation’, is where important habitats

are protected by being designated as sites

important for the conservation of nature.

Such designations are given legal protection

under European, national or local law and

targets are set to ensure that they are not

destroyed or degraded. There can be little

doubt that the land acquisition and

designation approach to nature conservation

has created safe havens for many of our

rarest species and their habitats, but it is a

very expensive approach and it appears to

have achieved little in protecting natural

ecosystems across the wider landscape.

Community conservation is where farmers

are empowered to exploit natural resources

in a more sustainable way. For example, if

farmers can be made aware of the economic

benefits they could achieve by changing

their agricultural practices to reduce their

impacts on natural ecosystems, they are

usually more inclined to do it. Something as

simple as creating a nutrient management

plan will ensure that the farmer’s valuable

nutrients are taken up by their crop and are

not lost into the river. The community

conservation approach has been shown to

yield catchment‐scale improvements in

ecosystem health, but its costs and benefits

can be undermined by fluctuations in global

markets and there is limited incentive to

invest in expensive farm infrastructure.

Perhaps the most commonly used approach

to environmental protection in the wider

landscape is currently incentivisation. This is

where farmers are incentivised to alter their

farming practices or invest in farm

infrastructure by the people who benefit

from improvements in ecosystem function.

This approach, known as the ‘provider is paid

principle’, is currently undertaken largely by

the government for the benefit of society as

a whole, but, while this approach can achieve

dramatic catchment‐scale impacts on

ecosystem function, to be universally

successful it will require a joined‐up vision for

catchment management in the future. In

particular, if we want private companies to

invest in catchment management on behalf

of their customers we will need to build clear

cases that include accurate indications of the

cost and benefit implications for them.

12

 

Catchment Area Partnerships 

Delivering the needs of society through better catchment management is not only the

responsibility of the public sector but also the private and third sector. The Westcountry

Rivers Trust believes that all groups actively involved in regulation, land management,

scientific research or wildlife conservation in a catchment area should be drawn together

with landowners and other interest groups to form a catchment management

partnership. This partnership, which will include a mixture of public, private and third

sector groups, will then be responsible for coordinating the planning, funding and

delivery of good ecological health for that river and its catchment.

The Environment Minister Richard Benyon MP has recently announced that the

Government is also committed to adopting a more catchment‐based approach

to sharing information, working together and coordinating the efforts to protect

England’s water environment. Following this announcement, DEFRA have begun

working with the Environment Agency to explore improved ways of engaging with

people and organisations that can make a real difference to the health of our rivers,

lakes and streams.

In the summer of 2011 the Environment Agency launched a new initiative that will test

the catchment partnership approach in ten "pilot" catchments. Alongside these ten EA‐

led pilots they would like fifteen more pilot catchments to be established that will be

hosted by other organisations. The Westcountry Rivers Trust has put their name into the

hat to host some catchments in the Westcountry as it already has strong links with many

of the major groups that effect, or are affected by, how land is managed.

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT 

The Catchment Management team of the

Westcountry Rivers Trust is dedicated to

improving ecosystem function by forging a

shared vision for our catchments that allows

funding to be acquired from multiple

sources that gain from changes in

management and then spent locally to

deliver this vision.

To do this our work is split into four key

areas.

(1) Investigation. Using the latest

modelling, surveying and mapping

techniques we assess river condition,

identify threats to ecosystem health and

create integrated catchment management

plans.

(2) Justification. We use the evidence we

collect to convince farmers of their potential

role in ecosystem management and of the

benefits to them of being involved. We also

use our data and evidence to engage

potential funders of catchment restoration.

(3) Delivery. We deliver a suite of targeted

catchment management interventions (in

an evidence‐led way) to achieve the best

possible environmental and economic

benefits for all of the interested parties.

(4) Education. We must communicate the

work we do to the public. We do this

through educational events, such as public

talks, agricultural workshops, school visits

and university courses, and through a series

of Trust publications and websites.

Map showing the 

catchment of the 

River Tamar and 

it’s tributaries 

13

 

An ecosystem is formed by a community of animals, plants and

micro‐organisms interacting with themselves and the physical

environment in which they live. Within a functional ecosystem the

community of living organisms exists in a finely balanced

equilibrium of life and death, with each forming a key component

of the food web and living in an environment in which the physical

elements, such as water, nutrients and other chemicals, are

constantly cycling and shifting around (and through) them.

As just one organism in the natural ecosystems that surround us,

we also rely on them to provide us with a wide array of the things

we need to survive. These benefits, which we call ecosystem

services, include the provision of the food we eat, flood protection,

sufficient clean water, habitats for wildlife, spaces for recreation,

clean air and the storage of our greenhouse gas emissions.

Unfortunately, as our population has grown over the centuries we

SPECIAL FEATURE 

ECOSYSTEMS SERVICE OUR EVERY NEED have become increasingly disconnected from natural ecosystems

and the services they provide. Since the people of Britain first began

to migrate into towns and cities, for example, we have largely

stopped growing our own food and increasingly relied on farmers to

exploit our natural ecosystems for us and to produce the food we

need to sustain us. They bring their produce into the market places

and shops and we pay them for the provision of this vital service.

The potential problem with this system is that, as the demand for

food grows, our natural ecosystems are being put under ever

greater pressure to produce food. In addition, while farming can be

lucrative if the global market is strong, at present farmers are having

to put more and more of their land into ever higher intensity

agriculture to make ends meet.

Over the last 20 years there has been a growing recognition that the

ecosystem services approach has huge potential for the effective

 

Balancing the provision of ecosystem service provision 

targeting, funding and delivery of environmental restoration and

protection. In 2000 the United Nations Secretary‐General Kofi Annan

called for the global consequences of ecosystem change for human

well‐being to be assessed and in 2001 the Millennium Ecosystem

Assessment (MEA) project was initiated. The project, which

incorporated the scientific research of more than 1,300 experts

worldwide, was designed to provide a complete appraisal of the

condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they

provide. It also assessed the options available to us to restore,

conserve or enhance the sustainable use of these ecosystems. The

MEA, which has now been followed by a National Ecosystem

Assessment in the UK, divides ecosystem services into four groups ‐

Supporting services:  services for the production of other ecosystem

services; soil formation, photosynthesis, primary production,

nutrient cycling and water cycling.

Provisioning services:  products obtained from ecosystems;

including food, fibre, fuel, genetic resources, biochemicals, natural

medicines, pharmaceuticals and fresh water.

Regulating services:  benefits from the regulation of ecosystem

processes; including air quality and climate regulation, water

resources management, erosion reduction, water purification,

disease prevention, pest control and pollination.

Cultural services:  the non‐material benefits people obtain from

ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development,

reflection, recreation and aesthetics.

In this special feature on ecosystem services we summarise some 

of the key ecosystem services provided by our river catchments 

and the approaches we can use to improve them through 

integrated catchment management. 

The ecosystem services provided by a river catchment exist in a delicate balance; some are

complementary and others antagonistic. If the provision of some services become dominant then

the river system can lose its ability to provide others. The key is to find the right balance...

 

Ecosystems Service our Every Need

Payments for Ecosystem Services 

At present, farmers, who represent less than 1% of our society, currently manage

nearly 80% of our countryside and are responsible for the health of the ecosystems it

supports. However, despite this key role for farmers in managing our natural

ecosystems, they are currently only paid for the provision of one ecosystem service;

food production.

So how do we ensure that the ecosystems in our landscape are still able to produce

the food we need and farmers are able to have sustainable and profitable

businesses, but in a way that is not detrimental to the other services ecosystems

provide?

The first thing we need is for farmers to reduce the intensity at which they farm the

parts of their land that play a key role in the delivery of other ecosystem services.

Unfortunately, the implication for the farmer of this ‘extensification’ will be a

reduction in the amount of food they produce and their business will be damaged.

We therefore believe farmers should, in addition to being paid for the food they

produce, be paid for undertaking sympathetic, extensive farming in areas where

they have agreed to reduce their productivity for the benefit of other services

provided by the environment. Effectively they should be paid for farming natural

resources instead of food on some sections of their land.

The big question this raises is; if farmers are to be paid for farming natural resources,

who should pay for this service? Where are the markets in which these products are

sold? Well, the answer is that there are people, communities and organisations that

benefit from these other environmental, or ecosystem, services. Everyone who

needs clean water to drink and bathe in has an interest in protecting the water in our

rivers. Fishermen, canoeists, ramblers and bird watchers – all want to enjoy rich and

healthy environments where wildlife thrives in beautiful surroundings.

We believe that these people, who already pay a huge price when our rivers are

damaged and degraded, should instead be the ones who help to protect them in the

first place – by supporting farmers who are willing to change the way they use their

land.

This principle, if the market can be realised, is termed the Payments for Ecosystem

Services approach to natural environment protection. If we can persuade those who

benefit from the maintenance of healthy, productive ecosystems across our

landscape that they should support the people who are responsible for their upkeep,

then (and only then) will we be able to create a more sustainable environment,

locally and globally, that will continue to support and provide for us long into the

future.

There are examples of PES schemes, including the Westcountry Rivers Trust’s very

own Upstream Thinking initiative with South West Water, that are already working

to enhance ecosystem services provision in the UK. There are however, some key

challenges that remain to be overcome if we are to see more such schemes

developing over the coming years.

First, the schemes must be voluntary and the market should be built upon trust

between the seller, the buyer and an ethical broker. Second, it is vital that the land

delivering multiple ecosystem services can be effectively identified and that

evidence of the quantity and quality of the services provided can be collected and

reported to the buyers. Finally, the administrative cost of running the scheme, both

in setting up contracts and policing of delivery, must not be prohibitive.

SPECIAL FEATURE 

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) need clean water  

Image: Andreas Trepte  

Image: Small Ritual  

 

SPECIAL FEATURE 

Fresh water & water regulation Rain falling on the land brings life to the plants and animals living

upon it, but it also collects and runs across the land forming rills,

gullies, streams and ultimately rivers. The transfer of fresh water

onto and then across the land is one of the fundamental processes

that sustain life on Earth. All of us depend on the fresh clean water

in our rivers and streams every day – we drink it, we bathe in it and it

sustains other life on which we depend for food and enjoyment.

Fresh water brings life to our landscape, but when the land is in poor

condition, when it is suffering because it is being exploited too

intensively, moving water can wreak untold damage upon it. Soil,

organic material and other pollutants on the land are too easily

transported into streams and rivers, polluting the water and

suffocating the life that it supports.

In addition to the role that the land plays in detoxifying and filtering

water, natural ecosystems also play a key role in regulating the rate

at which water is released from the land and into rivers and streams.

If water is not held on the land and in the soil for very long then it

not only accumulates in rivers too rapidly at first, which can cause

flooding lower down the catchment, but it also passes through the

river system too quickly resulting in ecologically damaging drought

during periods of low rainfall.

To help us identify key areas of land that play a vital role in the

purification and regulation of water in our rivers, we can now use

the latest digital mapping technology to visualise the way that

water moves across a landscape and so identify areas where

more intensive food production poses the least threat to the river

and the life it sustains. The technology also allows us to identify

areas where over‐exploitation of the land could leave it

vulnerable to damage and where rivers might therefore be

vulnerable to contamination or extreme flow levels. With these

so called ‘high risk’ areas identified we can then work with the

farmers to change the way they use this land, so that any

potential damage to the river is minimised.

The provision of clean fresh water in our rivers, which is equally

critical for the supply of our drinking water and the sustenance of

our fisheries, shell fisheries and bathing waters, is a service that is

fairly easy to value. Likewise the economic and human cost of

flooding or drought can also be quantified and, taken together,

this means that we can create a market in which the beneficiaries

of these services make a financial contribution towards

catchment management. By paying for agricultural

extensification and improved land‐use practice in the catchment,

funders could save huge amounts of expense in the future. 

 

SPECIAL FEATURE 

Provision of habitats & ecological networks The living organisms that live in an ecosystem are also a critical

component of it, playing key roles in the cycling of nutrients and

other elements through the system. The presence of rich and

abundant wildlife in an ecosystem can be a good indication that it

is in good health and it may also suggest that the ecosystem is

providing other services as well. For example, where there is an

abundance of insect life, it is highly likely that flowers and crops are

well pollinated. Likewise, a soil with high levels of biodiversity in it

is more likely to be a productive and healthy medium for growing

crops and recycling nutrients.

Having a rich variety of life in the natural ecosystems in which we

live is also hugely important for us; interacting with rich and

diverse natural habitats has been shown to culturally enrich our

lives and improve our psychological and physical well‐being.

In light of this vital role for natural habitats and the wildlife they

support in ecosystem function and in the provision of other

ecosystem services, it is vitally important for all of us that our

natural ecosystems contain sufficient interconnected habitat areas

in which wildlife, or biodiversity, can thrive. A web of natural

habitats that supports healthy populations of all our wildlife species

in an ecosystem is called an ecological network.

In a recent government report Professor John Lawton concluded

that our existing protected wildlife conservation sites do not

represent a ‘coherent and resilient ecological network’. He believes

that we must find a way to integrate the provision of connected

natural habitats into the management of our natural landscapes.

At the Westcountry Rivers Trust we believe that the Payments for

Ecosystem Services approach to river catchment management,

with funding coming from a wide array of potential beneficiaries, is

the best way to deliver the ecological networks we need to put in

place. The other advantage of the PES approach is that catchment

management work undertaken to improve the delivery of other

ecosystem services, such as water quality improvements, will in

many cases create habitat and corridors for wildlife as a by‐product.

18

Sundew in a wetland. Image: Hazel Kendall 

 

SPECIAL FEATURE 

Regulation of greenhouse gases  The level of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in our atmosphere is regulated

through the opposing effects of their capture and sequestration during biological

processes and their subsequent release when the resulting biological material is

broken down or destroyed.

The plants and soils of natural habitats, such as woodlands, peat bogs and other

wetlands, play a key role in capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide and other

greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. It is estimated that peat bogs alone in the UK

could be storing carbon equivalent to all of our emissions from industry for 20 years. In

addition, although the plants in agricultural landscapes contribute little to greenhouse

gas sequestration, the soil in farmland does play a key role in storing carbon and other

greenhouse gases.

Unfortunately, if agricultural land or natural habitats become damaged then the

greenhouse gases they hold can be lost to the atmosphere. Wetlands are particularly

vulnerable to drying, erosion and, in the case of peat bogs, over‐harvesting of the peat

itself for use as fuel or as compost. The intensification of agricultural practices can also

lead to the increased emission of greenhouse gases from the soil and some practices,

such as mechanical farming, high density livestock farming and the use of agro‐

chemicals, can themselves cause the emission of greenhouse gases.

In the UK we have lost a large proportion of our woodland and wetland habitats, but

we can still identify large areas of our landscape which, due to their terrain and their

predisposition to being wet, could easily be reverted to wetland or woodland habitat

and so become sinks for greenhouse gases. We can also reduce the emission of

greenhouse gases from intensively farmed agricultural land, by encouraging farmers

to farm more sustainably and sympathetically in certain areas where the land, if

damaged, is vulnerable to degradation and greenhouse gas loss.

The key to developing this as a Payments for Ecosystem Services initiative is first to

gain a good understanding of how much sequestration might be achieved using this

approach. Once we can quantify delivery of the service, then we can begin to market it

to groups or companies with an interest in off‐setting their carbon emissions.  

19

Honey bee 

Pyramidal orchids  Leaf litter in an ancient woodland 

 

SPECIAL FEATURE 

Culture, recreation & tourism Healthy natural ecosystems in both rural and urban environments

provide somewhere for people to engage in recreation, tourism

and social activities. Access to natural environments also plays a

central role in the cultural, economic and social enhancement of

our communities and the enrichment of our lives as individuals.

Numerous scientific studies have now shown that interacting

with, and spending time in, the natural world actually enhances

our quality of life, improves our emotional well‐being, reduces

stress and improves our health.

Recreational and cultural activities that are dependent on healthy

and beautiful natural environments include; surfing and

swimming in the sea, boating and kayaking, walking, bird‐

watching and natural history, fishing, art and photography. All of

these pursuits take people out into the natural environment and

allow them to enjoy the benefits it can give them.

For organisations interested in the restoration and conservation

of natural ecosystems it is important to recognise that many of

these recreation and leisure pursuits are greatly valued by the

people that undertake them and that this value can be quantified.

As a result of this, each activity therefore has the potential for the

development of Payments for Ecosystem Services markets and

therefore has the potential to develop funds for river catchment

management.

A fantastic example of this process, that has already been shown

to be effective as a method for promoting recreation and

improving rivers, is the Rivers Trusts’ Angling Passport Scheme.

By working with farmers and land‐owners to help them market

their fishing we have created a PES scheme where the

beneficiaries of the healthy ecosystem, the fishermen, make

payments directly to the people who are providing that service;

the land managers.

Another project that the Westcountry Rivers Trust are working

on, in partnership with the British Association for Shooting and

Conservation (BASC), is the Country Sports South West Project,

which is aimed at bringing together and developing the region’s

wealth of country sport activities.

While this PES mechanism for funding river restoration is

undoubtedly a valid one, there are a number of major challenges

that we face when trying to set up markets for recreation,

tourism and cultural activities. First, there is the issue of access:

the public are unlikely to be willing to pay for a service to which

they have limited access due to location or price. We must work

to overcome barriers to access if the market is to be developed

for the benefit of all.

Secondly and perhaps most importantly, is the difficulty we have

in placing an economic value on the often intangible cultural,

spiritual and aesthetic benefits provided by this type of

ecosystem service. People tend to understand that we would all

be worse off if these services were no longer being provided, but

they are less likely to be willing to pay for them if they cannot see

the immediate demonstrable benefits to themselves.

20

Birdwatchers 

Image: Hey Mr Glen  

Kayaks 

Image: Steve Richie  

Beautiful summer river 

 

Like a well‐used muscle the river courses through the valley  

              which is my home. In summer, you can see the knots and  

                   sinews of its course: twenty long pools and perhaps twice that  

       number of runs, riffles, glides and island streams that subtly change from year to  

         year.  Gravel banks and islands form and shift sprouting little forests of willow, birch  

            and alder with garlands left by winter floods streaming from their branches.  

BY RAY GORDON

FROM THE RIVER 

Throughout the long summer days goosander, merganser

and cormorant patrol the shallow riffles and faster

streams. Tern, black headed gull, kingfisher,

martins, swifts and osprey quarter the surface. Mallard

families, coot, dipper, wagtails and heron stalk the

edges and eddies. At dusk, the night shift resumes its

vigil. Bats, owl and otter appear and disappear into the darkness.

The insects appear and vanish in their ephemeral way. Mayflies,

sedge, stonefly and midge make an appearance when it

suits at their allotted times, which vary with the weather

and season. At such times they distract the birds from

their aquatic quarry. It is on these occasions, if the

sun is not too bright or the wind or water not too

cool, that the river’s indigenous creatures rise

to the surface and reveal themselves to us. Trout,

salmon parr and grayling dimple the smoother

glides with their nebs, splash their tails as they dive

with a tasty morsel, roll up their dorsal fins or, for reasons best known to 

themselves, leap clear of their element and plop back leaving an enigmatic ring of ripples.

The trout is perhaps the most prolific species that spends its entire life within the river.

It needs to survive to sexual maturity by escaping predators and finding or

following food sources throughout the seasons. It is then driven to spawn, perhaps not

every year thereafter but at least several times. On each occasion it will deplete its

flesh and require considerable effort to regain condition. As it grows older, bigger

and more solitary its diet may change to include the infants of its own

and other species.

Someone once said, a long time ago, “Where there is trout you

will find beauty”. On this river , in the presence of trout there

is certainly beauty: in the fragility of the ephemeral

olives, the grace of the swift, the flash of the kingfisher,

the quietness of the heron, the dance of the dipper,

the sleek surprise of the otter; the sublime outline

of the hills, the lush verdant slopes of mixed woodland,

riparian primroses, foxgloves, wild garlic; the ever changing 

light and darkness, hiding and revealing aspects of beauty in a

kaleidoscope of colour and shade as the day and the year turns from the steely

grey‐blue of winter to the riot of spring colours, through the variegated summer to the

burnished bronze of autumn.

And through all of this beauty, ceaselessly, urgently, restlessly, the river’s sinews stretch

and pulse, reflecting all the life and beauty by day and by night. Even in the

monochrome darkness revealing an infinite variety of ever changing quicksilver

patterns punctuated by trout launching themselves into the moonlight or moon‐

shadows and disappearing into their own golden brown, butter yellow, crimson

speckled beauty safe, for a while, in the sinews of the river.  

 

FUNDRAISING NEWS 

Thanks to our supporters and funders WE WOULD  LIKE  TO  SAY A HUGE  THANK‐YOU  TO ALL OF OUR  SUPPORTERS AND  FUNDERS  ‐ WITHOUT YOUR  SUPPORT WE 

WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND NATURAL VALUE OF OUR RIVERS AND RIVER CATCHMENTS. 

22

Fund will endow bright future on Westcountry rivers THE  WESTCOUNTRY  RIVERS  TRUST’S  NEW  RIVER  ENDOWMENT  FUND  IS  AIMED  AT  SECURING  THE  FINANCIAL 

FOUNDATIONS OF  THE  TRUST  AND  THEREFORE WILL  ALSO  ENSURE  THE  PROTECTION OF  THE WESTCOUNTRY’S  RIVERS 

LONG INTO THE FUTURE. 

The Westcountry Rivers Trust has clear objectives to protect in

perpetuity our rivers and landscapes from exploitation and

piecemeal environmental policies, and the long term financial

resources of Trust are fundamental to achieving this vision. The

Trust already makes maximum use of grant funding from

government agencies, water companies and the European Union

to augment the donations from Trust supporters, but these do not

provide the long‐term financial stability we need to achieve our

goals.

To address this, the Trustees have now established a Rivers

Endowment Fund, which aims to provide this security for our work

to continue regardless of the vagaries of external funding. The

Trustees hope that over a number of years the Fund will grow to

be a major force in the region to protect our rivers and landscapes

permanently.

Where will the money come from? 

The Fund will seek donations and legacies from people who may

already be supporters of the rivers trust movement. They are

probably people who have strong links with salmon and trout

fishing and have long held concerns about the impact of climate

change and farming practice on water quality, fish stocks and

migration patterns. These concerns are likely to be linked to

particular rivers, favourite fishing beats, fishing rights and riparian

ownership.

The Fund will also appeal to people who identify closely with a

landscape or habitat which they know and love and who wish to

see the rivers which flow through it protected. The Fund is also

seeking gifts that are non‐financial, such as property or fishing

rights.

What will the Fund be invested in? 

Funds donated to the Westcountry Rivers Trust Endowment Fund

will be held in catchment specific restricted funds and the interest

accrued will be used to fund river restoration and catchment

management activities in that catchment.

The investment proceeds from the fund will be used to support

projects that make a significant difference to water quality and the

life in and around our rivers or a section of a river. Projects might be

specific, for example, installing fish passes, preventing silt and run

off, cleaning redds or releasing new stock. Projects with more

general benefits might include permanent funding of a warden who

can work with other interest groups to protect the river and advise

on land management practices.

When a river fund reaches £100,000 it may generate around £5,000

per year to spend on the river. This income could be used to ‐

fence and stabilise several short sections of river bank: £100 each. 

restore fish breeding grounds and improve habitats for wildlife in 

the river corridor: £5,000. 

When a river fund reaches £1,000,000 it may generate around

£50,000 per year to spend on the river. This income in a catchment

could be used to ‐

fund a part time river warden for several years: £20,000 p.a. 

undertake a biological and chemical monitoring programme: 

£20,000. 

remove weir and install a fish pass: £50,000 ‐ £100,000.  

If you would like to obtain further information about the Trust’s

River Endowment Fund please contact the Trust office on 01579 

372140 or email info@wrt.org.uk to obtain an information pack.

 

WRT DIGITAL 

Data & mapping: helping us to put rivers in their place 

23

Maps have always been a powerful and vital

communication tool for ecologists and

conservation practitioners. Whether

engaged in scientific research, monitoring

species and habitats, influencing policy

makers or engaging the public, clear and

easy to understand maps can really help to

get a conservation message across.

In recent years, the pressure on local

authorities, government agencies and

conservation organisations to make the

most efficient and effective use of the

limited resources available for conservation

has grown significantly.

Indeed, huge emphasis is now placed on the

use of spatial data and geographic

information in evidence‐based policy and

decision making and few fields have

experienced as dramatic an expansion in the

use of geographic information as the

ecology and conservation sectors.

Spatial data and geographic information

differ from traditional data and evidence in

the fact that they have the added element of

location or place associated with them.

Spatial data is created, managed, presented

and analysed using a Geographic Information

System (GIS). A GIS is a collection of

computer hardware, software, and

geographic data for capturing, managing,

analysing and displaying all forms of

geographically referenced information.

By breaking the real world down into a series

of layers a GIS allows the user to analyse data

visually and see patterns, trends and

relationships that might not be visible in

tabular or written form.

A GIS is a powerful tool for presenting data in

maps, but perhaps its greatest power is that

it can be used to model spatial relationships

and answer questions about how things

relate spatially to each other in the real

world. This type of question is known as a

spatial query and the method for studying

spatial relationships is termed spatial

analysis. Spatial analysis can range from the

measurement of distances or areas right

through to the analysis of river networks,

or the modelling of species populations or

habitat restoration opportunities.

Conservation organisations are now

increasingly looking to use spatial

evidence to inform both their work and

their landscape‐level conservation

strategy development.

To develop a comprehensive and robust

spatial evidence‐base, conservation

organisations need to acquire the latest

mapping technologies and develop key

skills in the creation and management of

spatial data, the production of

professional maps and the latest spatial

analysis techniques. To help Rivers Trusts

meet this need the Westcountry Rivers

Trust have teamed up with the Rivers

Trust and the University of Reading to

develop a series of GIS training courses

specifically tailored to the work of their

staff.

There will be more courses over the

coming months, so please contact us if

you would like to attend.

Trust using film to spread vision

At the Westcountry Rivers Trust we are

always looking for new ways to share our

vision for river conservation and this

summer we have been working to create a

number of short films about various aspects

of our work.

Films are a great way to communicate what

you are doing and why to the public and

partners alike. This is especially true now

that videos can reach such large audiences

on the internet, so keep an eye out for our

films as they are released on our website

and a number of other sites.

Our new films include one for the Atlantic

Aquatic Resources Conservation (AARC)

Project, one on our work for the Rural

Economy and Land Use (RELU) Programme,

and one on ecosystem services for the new

WATER Project website.

The films represent just one part of our wider

efforts to engage and educate people about

the work of the Trust to protect and

conserve the Westcountry’s wonderful rivers

and their catchments.