Rivers in Elmet

This project aimed to address soil and nutrient loading, and habitat modifications.

In the first phase (April 2017- March 2020), we engaged with 50 farmers to:

• Fence 7km of riverbank, creating approx. 3.5 Ha of buffer strip. 
• Plant more than 3000 trees, including .5 km hedges.

This work helped to exclude livestock from the rivers and improved 15 drinking points. We also installed 5 pasture pumps to provide alternative watering solutions for livestock. These physical improvements helped reduce erosion and pollution, whilst enhancing the quality of bankside habitat.

The second phase of delivery ran from April 2020 to March 2023 and addressed sediment, nutrient pollution and habitat modifications in the five adjoining waterbodies of: Collingham Beck, Thorner Beck, Cock Beck, Mill Dike and Bishop Dike in the lower Wharfe and lower Ouse catchments. Works completed included:

• Riparian fencing – enabling rougher vegetation to develop, buffering watercourses and providing varied habitat for wildlife.
• Alternative drinking options – reducing livestock erosion of bankside and soiling direct into the water.
• Riparian and cross slope hedging – creating a more diverse habitat for species, slowing the flow of water entering the watercourses and reducing sediment and nutrient runoff by filtering.