The prestigious 2005 Association of Rivers Trusts Awards, supported by WWF & HSBC, Salmon & Trout Association and the Atlantic Salmon Trust, included over £12,000 in cash awards for recipients. The money, to be spent on a river conservation project of their choice, together with a certificate and specially commissioned, lead crystal, water themed vase, is given in recognition of excellence and achievement. The award nominations also mark the outstanding contribution made by individuals and groups to the Rivers Trust movement and the need to carry this forward.

The packed Awards Dinner held by the Association of Rivers Trusts (ART) in conjunction with the Association’s Autumn Seminar, was attended by VIP’s and enthusiastic supporters of the Rivers Trust movement from across Great Britain and Ireland, who gave each popular winner a rousing round of applause. Tense nominees waited in time honoured fashion for the opening of each envelope; and as always there were a few surprises!

The “Award for Contribution to Science”, for £2000 sponsored by the Atlantic Salmon Trust, was presented by their Director, Seymour Monro to: Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith of the Wye & Usk Foundation, for applying best science to headwater regeneration.
	The “Award for Contribution to Best Fisheries Project with Environmental Improvements”, for £4,000 sponsored by the Salmon & Tout Association was presented by their Director, Paul Knight jointly to: Alistair Maltby and Lucy Dugdale of the Eden Rivers Trust, for their innovative RARE (Rapid Assessment of the River Environment) project and electro-fishing surveying programme.
The “Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer”, for £4,000 sponsored by WWF & HSBC was presented by HSBC’s Regional Community Manager Sue Farthing to: Michael Martin of Westcountry Rivers Trust for a decade of unstinting service.
There were an unprecedented three “Special Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Rivers Trust Movement”, totalling £4,000. The first, presented by ART’s Chairman Ian Gregg jointly to: Brian Marshall of Wessex Salmon & Rivers Trust and Niall Greene* of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now, for their campaigning work on salmon conservation and the removal of the Irish drift nets. *The award was accepted on their behalf by John Carroll of the Slaney River Trust
The second, presented by ART Trustee, Prof. Lynda Warren to: Pat O’Reilly, for angling and environmental improvements in Wales.
The third and final Special Award being presented by ART Director Arlin Rickard to: Peter Gough of the Environment Agency in Wales, for his contribution to the environment through partnership working. This is the first time the work of an agency officer has been recognised in this way.

Arlin Rickard, Director of the Association of Rivers Trusts who acted as MC for the evening said, “With so many outstanding nominations the judge’s task was a difficult one. These popular and valuable awards recognise individual achievement through technical excellence and a level of commitment and effort, which has defined the development of the Rivers Trust Movement. ART and our award sponsors WWF & HSBC, Salmon & Trout Association and the Atlantic Salmon Trust are delighted to be able to mark each of the winner’s achievements in this way and raise the profile of Rivers Trust’s activities.”

Commenting on the Special Award to Peter Gough of the Environment Agency, Arlin said, “An award recognising the excellent work of our Agency partners is long overdue. Peter is a very popular winner and I hope we will see other work colleagues nominated in future. It is ART’s intention that the Awards help give some recognition to the many people that work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect our environment.”

This year’s award winners will be invited back to next year’s ceremony to give a short presentation on how they have chosen to spend their money. Nominations for the 2006 ART Awards programme will open next year with generous support from WWF, HSBC, Atlantic Salmon Trust and Salmon & Trout Association. Details and nomination forms will be found posted on the ART website in the New Year: www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk

The Wolfscastle Hotel in Pembrokeshire, provided an excellent venue for the two day ART Autumn Seminar on “Community Partnerships”, hosted by the Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust and supported by the Celtic Rivers Trust Partnership and Interreg IIIA, via the Welsh Assembly Government. The programme comprised thought provoking papers and presentations on the first day, with the Awards Dinner held in the evening, with field visits on day two.

Ian Heaps's (foreground) coarse fishery was a revelation

These included a fascinating visit to the Pembroke Mill Ponds project which provided a real eye opener with regard to the extraordinary difficulties often experienced by communities when they try to take an interest and restore their local environment. The efforts by a small number of individuals working on the Millponds with the support of the Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust could only be described as heroic in the face of siltation, ignorance, bureaucracy and indifference.

By way of complete contrast, the visit to World Champion, Ian Heaps’ Premiere Coarse Fishery, showed what can be achieved when one person has the chance to realise their vision. This excellent coarse fishery was a revelation, opening up new opportunities in Pembrokeshire for tourism, the local community and most importantly introducing hundreds of youngsters to angling. Ian proved himself a real enthusiast and offered his lifetime of experience freely, taking great personal interest in every aspect of this successful fishery.

The field notes and speakers abstracts and presentations are available on the ART website and include Frank Jones of the Welsh European Funding Office, on present and future European Structural Fund programmes, Andy Schofield of the EA and Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust and Slaney River Trust (Ireland), reporting on work carried out under their Celtic Rivers Trust Partnership. Other speakers included Pat O’Reilly, Mark Lloyd the Director of ACA, Alex Inman and Dr Laurie Smith and Rivers Trust speakers on funding, education and community angling schemes.

Following interest expressed by a number of Trusts and individuals in understanding the new Defra Single Farm Payment Scheme, Cross Compliance and new Entry Level and Higher Level Agri-environment Schemes; as part of a theme based on, River Basin and Watercourse Protection in England, ART has recently produced a Practical User Guide: “Making the Most Out of Cross Compliance and Environmental Stewardship”.
You can download your own copy of the guide, by visting the guidance section of our website, or by clicking on the link below:
www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk

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