We get the idea behind No Mow May. A break from mowing is good, and can give pollinators a short-term boost. But maybe the real win is more permanent wild corners in your garden 24/7. #WildlifeGardening #Pollinators

Trees and rivers are deeply connected. 🌳💧 Trees shade rivers, cool the water, slow heavy rainfall and hold riverbanks together. Fallen leaves and branches create habitat for wildlife too. Healthy rivers need trees. What’s your favourite river like? #NatureRecovery #Rivers #Wildlife

Woodlands for Water update 🌿 Our target was 20ha of new woodland in 25-26 and we delivered 70.3ha across 7 sites, plus 92,105 trees and 580m of hedgerow. If you have 1ha+ in West Cumbria (gardens excluded), funding is available & we’d love to hear from you.🌱 bit.ly/4cnOQzt

A first outing for new tools at Hallsenna 🌱 Volunteers tested tree poppers to remove scrub by the roots on this lowland peat site. Birch encroachment can dry peat and release stored carbon. Careful management helps restore peat, supporting habitats and river resilience. 🌿

🌿 New installations have gone up at Walkmill Community Woodland Explore 29 new features on the site’s history, wildlife and heritage – from story benches & tactile trails to a striking mining memorial. Co-created with the local community using memories & oral histories. Discover: www.walkmill.org

Our new riverside artwork has finally been unveiled at Derwent Water 💧🌿 Created by Daniel Weatheritt, the oak sculpture celebrates river restoration at Barrow Beck and was inspired by ideas from young people. Read more: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/news/new-scu...

🐸 Toad Patrol volunteers needed! Frogs, toads & newts are crossing roads in Keswick this spring. Help get them safely across – no experience needed, equipment provided. Even a few evenings makes a huge difference! 💚 Sign up: westcumbriariverstrust.org/volunteer

✨ Last week, Isabella joined us here at WCRT for her Dream Placement! She got hands-on with water sampling, community events, visitor surveys, Youth Panel planning, and even hedge laying & tree planting. She said it was “inspiring to see how WCRT protects rivers, land, and communities” 🌱

Whilst you might think winter is still hanging around, our freshwater friends are already partying into spring! 🐸🌱 Frogs, toads and newts are on the move; our volunteers captured these images from Walkmill Community Woodland near Whitehaven. Nature is waking up! #RiverWildlife #SpringAwakening

Characters are coming to life on the Derwent Water sculpture! 🎨✨ We’ve set an installation date – by month’s end it will finally meet the water that inspired it. We can’t wait to share it with you!

We popped back to Bransty Primary to see our SuDS system in action! 🌧️➡️🌱 Flooded garden? Now a place for water play and learning, supporting children and nature together in West Cumbria. #GreenerGrounds #SuDS #NaturePlay

Things are moving fast on the Derwent Water sculpture. Careful carving is turning into something that feels properly whole, with new details appearing daily. We’re even starting to talk installation dates now. Exciting times ahead. #WateryWalks #DrawnToWater #RiversAndArt

🌱 New INNS sightings in South Cumbria! We need your eyes on the ground to map invasive species. Especially keen on Wigton area! Check what to look for: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/wildlife/inns Log your sightings: innsmapper.org/home

Daniel barely took a break over the festive period, and the Derwent Water sculpture is taking shape ✨ The box panels show flowing water channels, a forest of leaves – oak, sycamore, silver birch, ash, alder, douglas fir, scots pine – and a little vendace has appeared too!

Thrilled to see our #GreenerGrounds work on the BBC! 🌿 Turning school grounds into buzzing green spaces with wildlife, rain gardens & wildflowers – learning and nature, all in one. Check out the feature 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🎉 Look who’s moving in! We spotted a juvenile lamprey in a newly restored stretch of the Upper River Ehen. After 1km of river restoration this summer, it’s brilliant to see how quickly wildlife responds when nature gets a helping hand. 🌊 #RiverRestoration #RiverEhen #WildlifeWins

Volunteers groups nr Chelmsford are inspiring us by tackling Himalayan balsam on their local stream. Here at WCRT, we’re aiming to clear it from the whole Derwent catchment. This year, Lottery Community funding will help set up new balsam groups. 💚👀 www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/projects/inns

New year, new goals 👀 Fancy helping your local patch? Spot invasive non-native species (INNS) on your walks & upload sightings to the FREE INNS Mapper app. Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed & skunk cabbage are top of our list – every record helps rivers & wildlife 💚

As the year draws to a close, here are a few moments from our rivers and wetlands in West Cumbria. Thanks for being part of the journey this year. Find out how you can support our work: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org

40 amazing volunteers joined our annual celebration! 🎉 We walked the St John’s in the Vale catchment, saw our projects in action, enjoyed a buffet from High Tea Guy 🍽️, and handed out awards – WCRT buffs included! 💚🧣

Our new Walkmill Community Woodland website is live: www.walkmill.org A fresh hub for events, activities, volunteering and the woodland’s rich history, including newly shared photos uncovered with help from Cumbria Archives. More events landing in the new year. We hope you like it...

Our Assistant Director, Vikki Salas, is on BBC Look North (NE & Cumbria) tonight talking about our Resilient Glenderamackin project as part of their feature marking ten years since Storm Desmond 🌊 Restoring rivers, reconnecting floodplains & protecting communities ❤️ Catch it at 6.30pm!

Something magical is brewing in the workshop… 🎄 Artist Daniel Weatheritt + National Trust are shaping a new piece, Drawn to Water, heading to the shores of Derwent Water early next year. Supported by the Species Survival Fund. #WateryWalks #DrawnToWater #WCRTWalks

Something special is happening! 👀🐟 Not one, not two, but three Atlantic salmon have reached their spawning grounds where we carried out river restoration this summer. After a 4,000–6,000 km migration, they’ve made it home. Nature wins again. 👏🐟

When rivers can be rivers, wildlife bounces back 🌊 How Beck near St John’s Beck once had just 4 trout per 100m². After restoration with boulders, trees and woody debris, our latest survey shows there are now 80 🐟 Nature bounces back when it has the right conditions. #HealthyRivers #NatureRecovery

It’s been a busy summer in waders at Legburthwaite, near Thirlmere 🌊 We’ve been restoring another stretch of river to create more space and better habitat for salmon, lamprey and trout 🐟

Farmers urgently need government support to restore rivers and make #SpaceForWater, which will create wildlife habitat, clean our waters, and protect communities from flood and drought. We've nearly reached our goal of 10,000 signatures. Help us get there: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...

Make a real impact on rivers and wildlife! We’re looking for trustees with a passion for conservation, especially those with commercial, legal, or community/education experience. Find out more ￫ www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/news/new-tru...

1km of river restoration on the River Ehen this summer! Revetments removed, boulders added, floodplains reconnected. More resilient habitat for freshwater mussels, Atlantic salmon & other wildlife. Thanks to Environment Agency, United Utilities, Wild Ennerdale, Natural England.

Something exciting is taking shape on Derwent Water 👀 We’re working with the National Trust & artist Daniel Weatheritt on a new sculpture project – part of a bigger WCRT Watery Walk coming soon. Our Youth Panel’s been helping dream it up… watch this space!

Tackling Japanese Knotweed at its source 🌱 With Environment Agency permission we’re using a water-safe, targeted herbicide (blue dye shows treated areas). This invasive INNS spreads fast and can damage riverbanks – careful, timely management protects our rivers.

A wild first week for our apprentices! 🌿 From peat probes on the Thirlmere fells ⛰️ to moss ID at Glasson Moss 🌱, a Bioblitz at Walkmill 🪰, and bat boxes at Westogether 🦇 – they’ve been busy learning, surveying and scything their way into conservation life! 💪

At Longlands Lake we thought a teddy bear was wedged in an owl box… until a Tawny Owl flew out! 🦉 Huge thanks to Robert Stephenson, whose species-tailored boxes are already proving a hit on the west coast. Got one at home? Share your owl pics!

🌿 14–18? Join our Youth Panel & be a voice for Cumbria’s rivers & lakes! Tree planting, creative workshops, leadership meetings – make an impact & learn new skills. 📩 [email protected]

🚨 New research shows the Lake District’s rivers are in trouble. 42% fail legal ecological standards. In 2024 alone, sewage spilled for 25,800+ hours – 573 hrs per overflow, more than double the national average. #ProtectOurRivers #LakeDistrict

🤝 Last week saw the first Cumbria-wide meet-up of trustees & CEOs from WCRT, @EdenRiversTrust, @SCRiversTrust & @LuneRiversTrust. Site visit at Bowberhead, then pies & big chats at the Fat Lamb. Such a success we’ll now meet every 6 months! #RiversTrusts #PartnershipWorking

💧 Our #rivers are in crisis – polluted, overheated & stripped of natural features. We’ve hit 7.5k petition signatures but need 10k for a govt response. Add your name & help restore our rivers: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...

Fishy business on the River Calder 🐟 We recently carried out a fish rescue on the River Calder, carefully moving fish to safety before work begins at a construction site. This was delivered as part of our consultancy services – Find out more here: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/consultancy

🌿 Last week’s herbal leys farm walk was a hit! Thanks to James Bretherton (AgScope), Richard Henderson & Liz’s Country Kitchens for the tips, demos & tasty treats. Great insights for anyone managing grassland on how to reduce input costs, boost soil health & increase yields.

🌿 We’ve made new wildlife ponds at High Leys Meadow Ponds & Wetlands, Loweswater! These three new ponds will create diverse habitats and enhance the wetland. Thanks to FiPL for funding & Tom Lindsey for the works! 🐸🦆

Last night our AD Luke Bryant spoke on BBC Look North about the devastating cuts to river restoration funding. 💧 Gov support has been slashed by 96% for our work & 87% for the Cumbria River Restoration Programme.

We’re proud to have been finalists for Thiess International River Prize – the Oscars of the environment – with our brilliant partners @edenriverstrust @southcumbriariverstrust Ullswater Catchment CIC, @nationaltrust.org.uk The Environment Agency @naturalengland & @defrauk - it's a huge accolade!

This summer we welcomed two Lancaster Uni interns for 3 weeks of hands-on conservation 🌿 They helped with electrofishing, balsam bashing & data work, and we got the most lovely thank-you card! Huge thanks & best of luck in your next adventures! #Conservation #Volunteers

This summer, over 1,000 volunteer hours went into balsam bashing across 93 hectares. At most sites we’ve now reached the furthest ever extents - making an impact at the source of our headwater sites. 🌿 It's a big challenge but we're not afraid to chip away until the Derwent catchment is HB free!

♻️ Zero Waste Week: it doesn’t start at the bin. Reuse, repurpose, repair – recycle last. Only 9% of plastic ever made has been recycled, and UK homes bin 1.7B pieces of plastic every week. Small swaps = big impact. 💡Tips: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/river-friendly

Crow Park’s ‘Poor’ bathing water rating showed why status matters – but one site isn’t the whole story. 💦 With funding from @CumberlandCouncil & @UKGovernment, we’re testing 4 more sites on Derwent Water this summer. Results due in autumn. Find out more 🔎 www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/friends

Catch our Luke Bryant on BBC Look North East & Cumbria tonight! 🌊 100km of rivers restored, the Cumbria River Restoration Programme is a Thiess International RiverPrize finalist 🌍✨ #riveroscars #riverfoundation

🦪 Over 18 months we’ve worked to protect freshwater pearl mussels in the Rivers Irt & Ehen, thanks to Natural England’s #SpeciesRecoveryProgramme. There’s been lots of hard graft, but recovery’s only just begun... Infographic here 👇 #ProtectOurRivers #NatureRecovery #FWPM

We’ve supported the creation of 4 new wildlife ponds in the Newlands Valley. As England has lost 75% of its wetlands, projects like this help slow water, store carbon & bring back biodiversity – one pond at a time. #PondLife #FarmingWithNature

That’s a wrap on our #VoleOnTour! 🐾 Thanks to everyone who shared water vole memories – we’re using your insights to shape future plans. For now, our focus is on tackling mink so voles can thrive again in West Cumbria. #WaterVole #RiverWildlife