JUNE UPDATE
in this issue…
Vote Rivers | Water Safety Away Day | Volunteering Update |
DVRN Catchment Management Plan | Job Opportunity | Big Give Update | Talking Lamposts
What’s been happening this month…
The summer months are always a busy time for us and our volunteers – so we’ve lots to update you on…
And remember, if you like what you read – please share!
Photo: A recent corporate volunteering event – find out more about our corporate volunteering days at: Corporate Volunteering – Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust
Vote For Rivers on 4 July
The water pollution crisis in our rivers, lakes and seas has to be one of the leading issues for Thursday’s 2024 general election. With just a matter of days to go, we urge you to remember that only 14% of rivers in England are in good ecological condition and 83% are highly polluted by sewage and agriculture. To find out more about supporting the #VoteForRivers campaign visit The Rivers Trust, and read its insightful comparative analysis of how rivers fare in all the main party manifestos, click on the link below:
DVRN Catchment Management Plan
YDRT is a lead partner in the Dales to Vale River Network (DVRN) which works collaboratively to co-ordinate activities within the five river catchments of the Wharfe, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse to facilitate them in moving from surviving to thriving. Using available data we have summarised the current condition and issues in each catchment and through local consultation meetings have identified and prioritised a Catchment Management Plan which you can access via the button below:
Can you pledge for our Xmas Big Give?
OK it is perhaps a little early to be talking about Christmas… but surely its never too soon to talk about fund raising for our award winning Rivers2U classroom! Inspired by the generosity of our supporters and the overwhelming success of our last two Big Give fund raising campaigns, we will once again be taking part in the Big Give Christmas 2024 campaign. This particular campaign requires match funding Pledges before the pledge deadline in August. By becoming a Pledger you commit to providing match funds, with a minimum pledge of £100. These funds could be worth up to four times for our charity, so there is a great reason for us to ask! If you are able to make Pledge or would like to find out more about the campaign and how it works, please contact us
We are hiring
Water Safety Team Away Day
Every two years all our staff renew and refresh their water safety training. This theoretical and practical training day is a good reminder of the dangers that open water presents to everyone – especially since more than 300 people die in our rivers, canals and coastal waters each year. The key messages for everyone to remember are: know your own ability and review all hazards (such as current, depth and safe entry and exit points) before you enter the water.
Photo: the YDRT team learning water safety
Volunteer Update
It really has been a busy few weeks for our volunteers, with Riverfly training taking place to enable teams to monitor water quality on the rivers Wharfe and Nidd. There’s also been a big focus on Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) training and management, with a small group out looking for American Skunk Cabbage on the Wharfe at Ilkley and a corporate day out with a team from the Environment Agency. We’ve also been carrying out INNS training in Swaledale in the Skeeby beck catchment. This covered ID and control methods for certain invasive species and a discussion of how best to approach control in the area, with a key tool being the use of INNS mapper to show where the plants are in order to systematically tackle their control. Should your parish or Yorkshire Dales community group be interested in advice on tackling INNS along watercourses please get in touch via the button below:
Photo: Invasive species – American skunk weed
Talking Lamp posts
Ousewem, an innovative flood resilience project, is enlisting the help of talking lampposts to raise awareness about natural flood management (NFM) in North Yorkshire. Led by City of York Council, in collaboration with North Yorkshire Council and ourselves, the project aims to identify and deliver nature-based solutions, including Natural Flood Management (NFM), to reduce flood risk in vulnerable communities across the Swale, Ure, Nidd, and Ouse river catchments. The first phase of the project will see signs appearing in and around Hawes, Gayle and Hardraw, marking the beginning of an innovative approach to community engagement in flood resilience. These interactive conversations are designed to evolve gradually, offering continuous educational materials, resources, and engagement opportunities – so keep an eye out for the talking signs when out and about!
