Latest news with #Derwent
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Dry spell sees Cumbrian rivers hit 'critical point'
High river temperatures are causing concern for the wellbeing of fish and other species, an environmental charity has Cumbria Rivers Trust says its monitoring efforts have found a number of waterways with temperatures at or nearing 18C (64F) - the point at which it says cold-water fish such as trout and salmon begin to experience stress, with a potential impact on breeding and feeding says the "unseasonably warm" weather of recent weeks has added to the long-term effects of climate organisation is calling for more tree planting near rivers to help provide shade and keep temperatures lower. The trust found St John's Beck, a tributary of the River Derwent flowing from Thirlmere Reservoir, to have a temperature of 18C, while the River Greta at Keswick was 17C (62F).The Upper Derwent, at Seathwaite, meanwhile, was 16.1C (61F) with water levels very low. 'Fish rescues' The organisation's assistant director, Luke Bryant, said data showed the rivers were reaching a "critical point" ahead of the summer."Key species would be salmon and trout, but there are also eels and lots of other types of fish," he said."We're also seeing some rivers drying out, for example the upper reaches of the Derwent that feeds into Keswick, and that can affect food sources with wetland plants and insects potentially dying or their eggs being wasted."We are very anxious about it. It's been quite an unusual April and May that we've had - unseasonably warm."He said while rain forecast for next week "would help", if there were a dry June or July then that could potentially lead to "even higher temperatures"."Sometimes you might have to do drastic things like perform fish rescues. We go in and try and move the fish out of a section if we think the river is going to dry up, but that's quite an undertaking and it's not something we can do every day," he said. Mr Bryant said the local picture was also being seen nationally following decades of trees being cut down to make way for the straightening of rivers and to maximise space for sheep and believes re-planting is now needed."There are great tree planting projects all over Cumbria and indeed the UK, but there's more to do and obviously it takes years for trees to mature," he said."All river systems need a variety of habitats. It's about having a sort of dappled effect, with a bit of sunlight in places and shade in others, because different species like different conditions." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sycamore Gap sapling planted in woman's memory
One of 49 saplings grown from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap Tree is to be planted in a woman's memory at a new nature reserve. The site, at Warren House on the Durham coast, was bought by the National Trust in 2023. A week of community woodland planting begins on 31 March and the Tree of Hope sapling will be planted later in the year. The reserve, Tina's Haven, is named after Tina Robson of Sunderland, who died of a drug overdose in 2020, aged of 35. Ms Robson's mother, Dr Sue Robson, said: "The planting of the Sycamore Gap sapling on the land later this year will symbolise that even after the worst adversity and tragedy, there can be recovery, healing, new beginnings and hope can grow in abundance." More than 21,575 trees will be planted at the reserve over the next few months, with 31 March chosen to mark what would have been Ms Robson's 40th birthday. The 34 hectare (84 acre) field is between National Trust land at White Lea Farm to the north and Cotsford Fields to the south. The nature reserve will be a mixture of woodland, wood pasture, grassland, hedgerows, ponds and wetlands. It will form part of a wider programme of habitat restoration work, including wildflower-rich magnesian limestone grasslands. Eric Wilton, general manager for the trust's Derwent, Wear and Coast Portfolio said a continuous six mile (9.5km) stretch between Seaham and Horden was being sought. "It's like another piece of a jigsaw, and managing land on a larger, joined-up scale brings many benefits," he said. Mr Wilton said the haven would also improve access to the coast with a circular path around the field to be created. Work to prepare the site began in February. Councillor June Clark, representing Horden, said: "I belong to probably the third generation living a stone's throw from these fields on Durhams Heritage Coast, who never set foot there in our youth for fear of our mother's wrath at venturing too close to the filth that was the beach. "Skip forward to today and it couldn't be more different. "Our coast is finding its audiences at last." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. 'Rare' coastal habitat set for restoration National Trust
BBC News
18-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sycamore Gap sapling to be planted in new East Durham reserve
One of 49 saplings grown from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap Tree is to be planted in a woman's memory at a new nature reserve. The site, at Warren House on the Durham coast, was bought by the National Trust in 2023.A week of community woodland planting begins on 31 March and the Tree of Hope sapling will be planted later in the reserve, Tina's Haven, is named after Tina Robson of Sunderland, who died of a drug overdose in 2020, aged of 35. Ms Robson's mother, Dr Sue Robson, said: "The planting of the Sycamore Gap sapling on the land later this year will symbolise that even after the worst adversity and tragedy, there can be recovery, healing, new beginnings and hope can grow in abundance."More than 21,575 trees will be planted at the reserve over the next few months, with 31 March chosen to mark what would have been Ms Robson's 40th birthday. The 34 hectare (84 acre) field is between National Trust land at White Lea Farm to the north and Cotsford Fields to the nature reserve will be a mixture of woodland, wood pasture, grassland, hedgerows, ponds and will form part of a wider programme of habitat restoration work, including wildflower-rich magnesian limestone Wilton, general manager for the trust's Derwent, Wear and Coast Portfolio said a continuous six mile (9.5km) stretch between Seaham and Horden was being sought."It's like another piece of a jigsaw, and managing land on a larger, joined-up scale brings many benefits," he said. Mr Wilton said the haven would also improve access to the coast with a circular path around the field to be to prepare the site began in February. Councillor June Clark, representing Horden, said: "I belong to probably the third generation living a stone's throw from these fields on Durhams Heritage Coast, who never set foot there in our youth for fear of our mother's wrath at venturing too close to the filth that was the beach. "Skip forward to today and it couldn't be more different. "Our coast is finding its audiences at last." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
