ART Autumn Seminar Report
The Association of Rivers Trusts Autumn Seminar 2010 12th-13th October at The Tufton Arms Hotel Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria

“Adaptive Land use for Flood Alleviation: implications and opportunities for river managers”,

The event was held on the banks of the River Eden in Appleby, and hosted by Eden Rivers Trust in partnership with the ALFA Project. Papers were presented on the very latest research and advice about adapting land use to alleviate flooding.

Topics included the links between flooding and wetland ecosystems, approaches for managing sediment and reconnecting floodplains, ways to balance nature and agriculture with flood risk management, the value of ecosystem services as an approach to driving change, and best practice case studies.

Delegates and speakers from all over the UK, including rivers trusts, government agencies, consultants, private water companies, scientists, and NGO’s were joined for the two day event by ALFA project partners from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The ALFA project was showcased at the event and included the presentation of innovative research recently completed by scientists at Durham University as part of the project. This has shown that rural land use could have an effect on catchment scale flood risk, even for extreme flood events such as those experienced in Carlisle, UK, in January 2005, if carried out in the right locations. 2/3 Links to other European initiatives were strong and presentations from the FloodResilienCity Project, the Dutch Room for the River Programme, and the Water Project all demonstrated the approaches being developed throughout Europe and the benefits of European cooperation.

In summing up the event Archie Ruggles-Brise (Director – South East) of the Association of Rivers Trusts said “this feels like the start of something with land management becoming an accepted method of flood alleviation. There seems to be a growing body of science together with a growing level of understanding, awareness and acceptance of the concepts. Co-operation across Europe is essential and will lead us to better solutions”. This was the first time the Association of Rivers Trusts’ seminar programme had focused directly on flooding and it provided a great opportunity for river managers to come together, exchange ideas, learn from each others experiences and examine the challenges we now face as a result of flooding and climate change. As part of the event delegates also visited a number of projects. This included seeing; large woody debris which had recently been installed by Eden Rivers Trust into river channels and discussing its benefits for habitat creation, erosion control and flood alleviation; and the Wetland Discovery Trail, an outdoor education facility near to Carlisle which gives people an experience of the outdoors and shows what wetlands can offer in terms of wildlife, exercise, relaxation and most importantly water storage.

Further Information
Further information can be found on the ALFA web site here

Association of Rivers Trusts Awards 2010
“in recognition of excellence and achievement…”

The Awards:

Contribution to Science and Innovation
Sponsored by Atlantic Salmon Trust - Cheque for £1,000 and an ART Lindean Mill vase

Contribution to Fisheries and the Environment
Sponsored by Salmon & Trout Association - Cheque for £1,000 and an ART Lindean Mill vase

Volunteer and Community Engagement
Sponsored by drainmarkers.co.uk - Cheque for £1,000 and an ART Lindean Mill vase

Public Sector
ART Lindean Mill vase

Contribution to the Rivers Trust Movement
Cheque for £1,000 and an ART Lindean Mill vase

Nominations:
Laurence Couldrick Establishing the foundation degree course for integrated catchment management at Duchy College and leading catchment training for trusts nationally
Laurence Couldrick Pursuit of sustainable trust development though paid ecosystem services based on Westcountry experience
Richard Cowan Contribution to the Defra Marine & Freshwater Biodiversity Division
Erica Evans Organising and attending countless community volunteer events on the Wandle for over 10 years
Becky Helm Outstanding environmental education work to over 10,000 children and adults in the Eden catchment
Keith Hendry Huge support of the Rivers Trust Movement through aerial photography technology, providing scientific gravitas, and well beyond commercial interest
Deborah Millward Volunteer management of the Raydale river improvement project in the Yorkshire Dales
Rob Mungovan Volunteer effort over 10 years in setting up and running Friends of the River Shep (Cam)
Malcolm Newson Developments in geomorphology relating to salmonid ecology
Donald Patterson Volunteer effort in setting up and developing Afonydd Cymru for trust sustainability and growth in Wales
Peak District CSF Group Tremendous participation in promoting catchment sensitive farming in the Dales
John (Sam) St Pierre Volunteer effort over 10 years in undertaking countless river improvement projects and trust development on the Sussex Ouse
Jack Spees Outstanding project development and delivery work on the Ribble.
Kevin Sunderland Volunteer effort over many years re weirs and fish passage in the Aire and Calder catchment
Barbara Wardle Tireless volunteer work recruiting, supervising and organising the River Watch group for Haydon Bridge (Tyne)
Martin Williams Contribution to fisheries' improvements in South West England
Humphrey Wood Outstanding volunteer management and implementation of the complex Head Weir Fish Pass project on the Taw

and the winners are....

Contribution to Science and Innovation Laurence Couldrick - Establishing the foundation degree course for integrated catchment management at Duchy College and leading catchment training for trusts nationally Presented by ART chairman Ian Gregg
Contribution to Fisheries and the Environment Jack Spees - Outstanding project development and delivery work on the Ribble. Presented by Chris Poupard (formerly director of the Salmon and Trout Association).
Volunteer and Community Engagement Barbara Wardle - Tireless volunteer work recruiting, supervising and organising the River Watch group for Haydon Bridge (Tyne) John (Sam) St Pierre (right)- Volunteer effort over 10 years in undertaking countless river improvement projects and trust development on the Sussex Ouse. Presented by John Brewington of Drainmarkers.co.uk
Public Sector Award Richard Cowan - Contribution to the Defra Marine & Freshwater Biodiversity Division Martyn Howat (formerly director of Natural England and ART trustee designate) presenting to Chris Coupard (ART Trustee) receiving on behalf of Richard Cowan
ART Special Award Becky Helm - Outstanding environmental education work to over 10,000 children and adults in the Eden catchment Presented by Philip Lord (ART deputy charman)
ART Special Award Keith Hendry - Huge support of the Rivers Trust Movement through aerial photography technology, providing scientific gravitas, and well beyond commercial interest Ian Gregg presenting to Andrew Davison (Tyne Rivers Trust) on behalf of Keith Hendry