Latest news with #JenSelvidge
BBC News
02-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cumbria's Howgill Beck 'rewiggle' project wins UK river prize
A wetland restoration project which reintroduced bends and curves to a stream has won a UK nature prize. Howgill Beck at RSPB Geltsdale, near Brampton, Cumbria, was straightened before the 18th Century but a recent scheme had it "rewiggled", which involved connecting floodplains and blocking ditches. The improved wetlands have seen the return of redshank and oystercatchers, while common sandpipers have nested at the site for the first time, the charity said. RSPB warden Jen Selvidge, who led the project, said the team "couldn't be prouder" to win the UK River Prize held by the River Restoration Centre (RRC). Entries for the awards - which also involved a catchment-scale accolade won by the Holnicote Estate Project in Somerset, were judged by experts on Beck flows through part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty and Geltsdale, which is a designated conservation bends were added to the beck so it could spill on to a floodplain when required. Last year, five pairs of redshank breeding at the site and two pairs of oystercatchers successfully nested for the first time since RSPB said in January that nearby Tindale Tarn became "completely frozen" but the wetlands at the beck were able to support bird species including snipe, teal and 2022 and 2023, two common sandpipers nested in the area - a common visitor to UK upland areas - but previously had been "totally absent" from Howgill Beck, the RSPB curlew, snipe and dipper have also been recorded regularly on the wetlands. Ms Selvidge said it was "wonderful to see species like the sandpipers" at the site."I am absolutely delighted with this win, and its great recognition for the whole team involved in this project. "Howgill Beck's restoration means the watercourse and the wildlife it supports will benefit the diversity here in this hidden corner of Cumbria," she added. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stream 'rewiggle' restoration project up for award
A wetland restoration project which reintroduced bends and curves to a stream is up for an award. Howgill Beck at RSPB Geltsdale was straightened before the 18th Century but a recent scheme had it "re-wiggled", improving wetland habitats in the area. Birds including snipe, curlew, oystercatcher, lapwing and redshank have been recorded at the site. The project, which has taken three years, was chosen by the River Restoration Centre (RRC) as a finalist in the UK River Prize Awards. The beck flows through part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty and Geltsdale, which is a designated conservation area. The project has reconnected the watercourse to its floodplain which has "re-introduced lost river features," the RSPB said. It said that although nearby Tindale Tarn became "completely frozen" in January, the wetlands at the beck were able to support bird species including snipe, teal and mallard. In 2024, five pairs of Redshank were recorded breeding and two pairs of oystercatchers successfully nested for the first time since 2016. In 2022 and 2023, two common sandpipers nested in the area - a common visitor to UK upland areas - but previously had been "totally absent" from Howgill Beck, the RSPB said. Tenant Farmer Ian Bell, said the difference in wildlife had been "amazing" and he felt proud to work the land. Project leader and RSPB Geltsdale warden, Jen Selvidge, said: "So many of our rivers have been modified and we've been conditioned to think they are natural, when the truth is often far from it. "What we've done here is more than re-wiggling, we've connected floodplains, created new wetlands and blocked ditches, resulting in a truly dynamic river." The project was funded by Northumbrian Water and Defra's farming in protected landscapes programme with support from consultants Dynamic Rivers, the Fellfoot Forward National Landscape Partnership Scheme and Natural England. Winners of the UK River Prize will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Straightened stream 're-wiggled' to attract wildlife North Pennines National Landscape RSPB
BBC News
29-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Howgill Beck 'rewiggle' restoration project up for accolade
A wetland restoration project which reintroduced bends and curves to a stream is up for an Beck at RSPB Geltsdale was straightened before the 18th Century but a recent scheme had it "re-wiggled", improving wetland habitats in the area. Birds including snipe, curlew, oystercatcher, lapwing and redshank have been recorded at the site. The project, which has taken three years, was chosen by the River Restoration Centre (RRC) as a finalist in the UK River Prize Awards. The beck flows through part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty and Geltsdale, which is a designated conservation project has reconnected the watercourse to its floodplain which has "re-introduced lost river features," the RSPB said. It said that although nearby Tindale Tarn became "completely frozen" in January, the wetlands at the beck were able to support bird species including snipe, teal and mallard. In 2024, five pairs of Redshank were recorded breeding and two pairs of oystercatchers successfully nested for the first time since 2022 and 2023, two common sandpipers nested in the area - a common visitor to UK upland areas - but previously had been "totally absent" from Howgill Beck, the RSPB said. 'A dynamic river' Tenant Farmer Ian Bell, said the difference in wildlife had been "amazing" and he felt proud to work the land. Project leader and RSPB Geltsdale warden, Jen Selvidge, said: "So many of our rivers have been modified and we've been conditioned to think they are natural, when the truth is often far from it."What we've done here is more than re-wiggling, we've connected floodplains, created new wetlands and blocked ditches, resulting in a truly dynamic river." The project was funded by Northumbrian Water and Defra's farming in protected landscapes programme with support from consultants Dynamic Rivers, the Fellfoot Forward National Landscape Partnership Scheme and Natural England. Winners of the UK River Prize will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
