YDRT News

Soil Sampling to Support Water Quality Improvement

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:09:45 GMT

Why this work matters

There has been considerable media attention recently about the impact of heavy metals − particularly lead − on our watercourses and, ultimately, on human health. There is, in fact, no safe level of lead exposure . Even low concentrations can be harmful, especially to children. It is therefore no surprise that the UK Government has set a target to halve the length of rivers polluted by harmful metals from abandoned metal mines by 2038 , and YDRT is proud to be involved in projects working to deliver that ambition.

The hidden legacy of metal mining

Across the Yorkshire Dales, the legacy of the 18th and 19th century lead mining industry − something of a regional ‘mini goldrush’ − remains etched into the landscape. Scheduled monuments such as chimneys, buildings and mine levels still stand as striking reminders of this industrial past. Less visible, but equally significant, are the countless barren spoil heaps and drainage tunnels (adits) scattered across hillsides – features responsible for the heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and zinc , entering our watercourses.

“The problem is that historic mining activities have left behind loose, unvegetated, heavy metal-rich mine waste,” explains YDRT Project Manager, Ellen Shields. “When it rains, these metals are washed into nearby becks and streams, contaminating water that flows downstream to rivers and reservoirs, and also causing harm to aquatic ecosystems and wildlife.”

A day in the field soil sampling

Keen to understand the scale of the challenge, I joined Ellen at one of the Trust’s sites to assist with soil sampling − a crucial part of the early testing and analysis stage of any metal mine remediation project. The data gathered will help identify priority areas and inform decisions about the most appropriate restoration techniques.

With the sun shining and the last remnants of weekend snow still clinging to the ground, it was the perfect day to observe how water moves through the spoil heaps, with the meltwaters carving countless small gullies through the loose material, rushing under and across the site before making their way to the beck in the valley bottom. It was a vivid demonstration of how easily contaminants can be mobilised.

How sampling works

Prior to my visit, Ellen had divided the site into ten prominent spoil heaps . Our task was to collect between three and five soil samples from each heap for laboratory analysis, testing for heavy metal concentrations. Every sample was also precisely geo-referenced to build an accurate contamination map of the site.

Even to my untrained eye, the variation between spoil heaps was striking, with differences in colour, texture and composition abundantly clear, as was the spoils varying ability to support even sparse lichens or hardy metal-tolerant plants.

A fragile landscape

The fragility of the mine waste was also evident, with its loose, unstable composition making it highly vulnerable to erosion from water, wind and even footfall.

On the same day, Historic England was also on-site mapping archaeological features, as any future remediation work must strike a careful balance between reducing environmental harm whilst protecting the significant industrial heritage that gives this landscape its distinctive character.

Looking ahead

Addressing centuries-old pollution is no small task. Yet projects like this demonstrate how science, conservation and heritage management can work together to restore water quality whilst respecting the past.

Soil sampling may seem like a small first step, but it provides the essential evidence base needed to design effective, lasting solutions for our rivers and their communities downstream.

March 2026 News

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:27:35 GMT

Read our latest update here!

How Digital Imaging Drone Technology Supports River Restoration

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:40:48 GMT

Discover how we use one technology in myriad ways to support some very different river and catchment improvement, restoration and remediation projects

Digital imaging drone technology is transforming the way river restoration projects are planned, delivered and monitored. Once primarily used for military reconnaissance, modern drones are lightweight, digitally stabilised and often AI-assisted, making them powerful tools for environmental conservation. Today, they are widely used by organisations ranging from emergency services to river trusts, like ours.

We use drone surveys to support a wide range of river and catchment restoration work, including Natural Flood Management (NFM) , fish passage barrier removal , and the remediation of pollution from historic metal mining . Drone technology saves time and money, improves accuracy, and enables more effective long-term monitoring. It also helps us communicate project outcomes to partners, funders, stakeholders and the public. In some cases modelling software allows us to virtually test different restoration scenarios before any work takes place.

Using Drones for Natural Flood Management Projects

Patrick Lane – Assistant Project Officer

“I work on an NFM project that uses drones alongside advanced modelling and analysis tools.

“When we begin work in a new area, we first carry out a drone survey to record baseline conditions. This allows us to assess watercourses, wet areas and key landscape features. Once we’ve identified suitable NFM interventions − such as scrapes, ponds, leaky dams, wetlands, hedgerows or reconnecting a watercourse to its floodplain, we create a fixed video of the site. This maps an exact flight path with precise GPS coordinates, essential for accurately monitoring change over time.

“Understanding how water moves across a site is especially important for landowners and partners. Drone data allows us to show how NFM measures increases water storage, improves infiltration and helps ‘slow the flow’. We combine drone footage with impact modelling software to clearly demonstrate how interventions are changing hydrology and reducing flood risk.”

Drone Surveys for Mine Pollution Remediation

Ellen Shields – Senior Project Officer

“Drone technology plays a vital role in addressing the legacy of historic lead mining. Our drone surveys generate thousands of high-resolution images, which are stitched together to create an orthomosaic. This produces a highly detailed, geo-referenced map of a large area, allowing restoration interventions to be planned with pinpoint accuracy.

“Specialist drone surveys also help us analyse site topography as well as the distribution and health of vegetation. This type of multi-spectral environmental data is useful for identifying areas of high-risk erosion. Data analysis of drone footage can also help us to assess riverbed stability, erosion and sediment movement – information that is critical when designing effective remediation measures.

“Repeating drone surveys over time is a brilliant way to monitor progress, track vegetation recovery and determine areas that may require further work.”

Improving Fish Passage and River Connectivity with Drones

Sarah Lonsdale – Project Manager

“One of my projects involves removing a ford, which can be significant barriers to fish migration, since many fish species rely on free movement between upper and lower catchments of a watercourse to access suitable spawning habitats.

“Drone footage has been invaluable in this project. It provides a clear aerial view of the beck and its hydrological features, including flow paths and channel structure. This allows us to understand exactly how water moves through the landscape and within the river channel itself. Drones also help us assess catchment characteristics such as riparian tree cover, channel modifications, barriers and areas of straightening.

“In this case, drone imagery has clearly shown how the ford is impounding water upstream. After the barrier is removed, we’ll carry out follow-up drone surveys to assess improvements in river hydrology. We’ll be looking for more diverse flow patterns, helping to create habitat niches, transport sediment and improve gravel quality − all essential for healthy fish spawning.”

If you are aware of a barrier to fish migration (such as a weir, culvert, ford or sluice) on a watercourse on your land within the catchments of the Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse or Wharfe and would like us to assess it, please email: enquiries@ydrt.co.uk

January 2026 News

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:33:56 GMT

Read our latest update here!

Shortlist of Best Sites for River Restoration

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:23:27 GMT

Mapping technology has enabled us to identify and prioritise catchments across the region that would benefit most from nature-based solutions (NbS) to help restore river health and mitigate flooding. Using software developed by national river restoration charity, The Rivers Trust, and applying it to 161 waterbodies in the catchments of the rivers Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse and Wharfe, we have been able to select 16 water bodies for their ability to deliver multiple benefits for rivers and nature.

YDRT project officer Lucy Hyde said: “The mapping software has allowed us to review rivers and catchments against some key criteria including nutrient runoff from farming activities and silt erosion – both of which contribute extensively to rural waterbody pollution. We also looked for opportunities to increase riparian shading, which helps to keep rivers cool during increasingly warm summers and provides valuable habitats that benefit fish populations.

“Interventions such as riparian tree planting or wetland creation not only intercepts nutrient and silt runoff through complex root structures, stabilising banks from further erosion, but also creates new habitats or connects existing habitats helping create ‘wildlife corridors’ for invertebrates, small mammals and birds.”

Following the completion of the mapping phase, we are now looking to work in partnership with existing organisations, landowners, farmers, and other local stakeholders to deliver on the ground solutions. If you are interested in finding out more about this email: lucy.hyde@ydrt.co.uk

The priority waterbodies are:

Cotterdale Beck from Source to River Ure;

Riccall Dam Catchment (trib of Ouse);

Hebden Beck Catchment (trib of Wharfe);

Oak Beck Catchment (trib of Nidd);

Snaizeholme Beck from Source to Widdale Beck;

Widdale Beck from Source to Snaizeholme Beck;

Hambleton Beck/Ings Beck Catch (trib of Wharfe);

Barden Beck Catchment (trib of Wharfe);

Sand Beck from Source to River Swale;

Park Gill Beck from Source to River Wharfe;

Skeeby/Holme/Dalton Beck from Source to River Swale

Brough Beck/Scotton Beck from Source to River Swale;

River Skirfare from Source to Heselden Beck;

River Ure from Source to Widdale Beck;

Willow Beck Catchment (trib of Wiske);

River Wiske from Source to the Stell

You can view the entire map below:

November 2025 News

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:16:28 GMT

Read our latest update here!

Operation Outfall – The State of Harrogate’s Oak and Bilton Becks

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:35:16 GMT

Our major survey of Harrogate’s Oak and Bilton becks has uncovered that several misconnections in the drainage network are adding highly polluting discharges to the waters of both waterways.

Read the full report to find out more about this important Outfall Safari survey – and watch the short info-reel to learn more about outfalls and how you can look after your local one.

For those wanting to learn about the results and ask any questions in person, please come along to our public event on Wednesday 26 November, 6-8pm at St Peters Church, Harrogate.

Book your place by clicking on the button below:

September 2025 News

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:00:47 GMT

Read our latest update here!

August 2025 News

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:47:10 GMT

Read our 2024/25 Impact Report

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:05:48 GMT

July 2025 News

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:58:37 GMT

June 2025 News

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:51:02 GMT

May 2025 News

Fri, 30 May 2025 20:50:33 GMT