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The UK River Prize and Nigel Holmes Trophy

Background to the prize

River restoration refers to a large variety of ecological,

physical, spatial and management measures and practices.

These are aimed at restoring the natural state and functioning

of the river system in support of ecosystems, biodiversity,

recreation, flood management and landscape development.

In 1999 the first Thiess International Riverprize was awarded in

Brisbane, Australia, to reward commitment to restoring the

world's rivers. The prize is managed by the International River

Foundation (IRF) who has twice granted the UK with this

prestigious award (currently 500,000 $AUS). The first prize in

1999 was awarded to the Mersey Basin Campaign and in 2010

to the Environment Agency and Thames Rivers Restoration

Trust for their work on the River Thames.

Inspired by the idea to recognise outstanding achievements in river restoration and the sharing of best

practice through twinning programmes the IRF European Riverprize was launched in 2013,

administered by the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR). The prize is capitalising on the

interest in river basin and water management in Europe with landmark instruments such as the Water

Framework Directive aimed at attaining a healthy status of all EU waters. The IRF European Riverprize

is worth €25,000 (sponsored by Coca Cola Europe). It includes a twinning grant to enable knowledge

sharing and the winner is also shortlisted for the International Riverprize. The inaugural European

Riverprize was awarded to the International Commission for the Protection (ICPR) of the Rhine for

bringing Europe’s River Rhine back to life. ICPR then also went on to win the Thiess International

Riverprize in 2014.

Figure 2 Left - Middle Rhine (photo: Klaus Wendling, LUWG Rheinland-Pfalz); right – representatives of the River Mur who won last year’s IRF European Riverprize (photo: International River Foundation).

Figure 1 Rob Oates and Alastair Driver accepting the Thiess International River-prize in 2010.

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These prizes are designed to give recognition, reward and support to organisations that have

developed outstanding and visionary programmes in sustainable river basin management. To highlight

the importance of a catchment based approach also in England, the Environment Agency and the River

Restoration Centre (RRC) formed a partnership to deliver the England River Prize, awarded to the River

Wensum Strategy, which was presented at the River Restoration Centre’s annual conference in 2014.

The UK River Prize and Nigel Holmes Trophy

The 2015 UK River Prize will build upon last year and form a collaboration with Scotland, Wales and

Northern Ireland to contribute to and celebrate best practice restoration and management of rivers

and catchments across the UK. The UK River Prize is administered by the RRC, supported by the

Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, the Rivers Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment

Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and WWF.

The UK River Prize will reward and give recognition to

successful approaches to river restoration and catchment

management, delivering a wide range of benefits. The UK

River Prize will be judged by a panel of experts and awarded on

19th May 2015 at the RRC’s annual network conference at

Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire. The UK River Prize

winners will also be presented with the Nigel Holmes Trophy in

recognition of his lifelong contribution to river restoration.

Nigel was a passionate conservationist and river ecologist, as

well as co-founder of the RRC.

Organisations involved in river, floodplain and catchment restoration in the UK can enter the River

Prize. Cross-border organisations may apply as long as significant activity has taken place in the UK.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate achievements in river, floodplain and catchment

restoration, and provide evidence of an integrated, science-based process for improving or

maintaining aquatic ecosystem health. Submissions should also demonstrate evidence of integrating

Figure 3 View and read more about the River Wensum and other winners on the RRC website: http://www.therrc.co.uk/england-river-prize-2014

Dr Nigel Holmes 1949 - 2014

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social, economic and ecological elements to attain multiple benefits and effective programme delivery

as part of a long-term vision.

The UK River Prize is comprised of a number of categories. These are:

Large project – e.g. catchment scale and multiple-sites

Small project – e.g. single site and volunteer input, (less than 100k)

Multiple partner & local community delivery

Multiple benefit

There will be a winner in each category and from these the overall winner will be nominated. The

overall winner will be awarded the Nigel Holmes Trophy and a £10,000 grant to help further restore

their waterways back to health for the benefit of local communities, wildlife and the environment. The

winning projects will gain recognition to raise the profile of the project in the community to

potential sponsors, businesses and other stakeholders and encouraged to apply for the European

Riverprize the following year. The award will also create a platform for project growth and

extension activities to facilitate networking and business linkages beyond the award period. The

RRC will advertise and publicise the River Prize through articles, social media and other means to river

restoration professionals and to the wider public in the UK and Europe.

How to apply

Visit our website to read the application guidelines, and then use the online application form to tell us

why your project should win the 2015 UK River Prize.

Applications will be accepted until March 2nd 2015.

Good Luck!

Click to Apply Now