Action on The River Welland
RIVER WELLAND
reports Geoffrey Gilfillan The River Welland rises above Market Harborough and flows through the gently rolling countryside of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, before reaching Stamford, where it is one of the features that makes the town so attractive. Below Stamford, the river continues on its way to Market Deeping and Spalding where its character changes, slowing down as it becomes one of the four fenland rivers which drain the Fens, before entering The Wash. People have relied on the Welland for thousands of years for water, food, drainage, transport and energy and as a result the river and its valley have changed enormously. For example, the river used to flow through the Trinity Bridge in Crowland, which is now almost a mile away and the bridge is now a dry monument in the centre of the town. While many of these changes have been positive, such as the creation of the water meadows which were such an important feature of the Welland Valley, many more others have been destructive. We are left with the legacy of some of these changes, particularly those associated with the physical nature of the river, how it behaves in draining the land and how much water flows into it. There are also other, newer pressures affecting the river, such as sediment from fields. The Welland Rivers Trust strives to take action to address all the issues affecting the quality of habitat, wildlife and water in the entire catchment. Conservation Work on the Welland The Welland Rivers Trust is a charity dedicated to protecting and conserving freshwater habitats within the River Welland catchment. Our vision is that the River Welland, from its source near Market Harborough, Leicestershire, through to the tidal limit at Spalding, Lincolnshire, including all the many tributaries will: • Be cleaner and healthier • Continue to provide drainage and manage flood risk • Support more fish, birds and other wildlife • Meet the needs of drinking water suppliers and businesses • Provide a more attractive place for people to enjoy • Be sensitively managed by everyone whose activities affect it
Image: Mark Peck
We are achieving this vision by working with everyone who wants to help us, including individuals, land managers, farmers, local communities, businesses, voluntary organisations, local authorities and government agencies. To date, our work has mostly involved: 1. River restoration projects to return our rivers and streams to a healthy and self-sustaining state 2. Community engagement and education to raise awareness of river conservation issues, and to recruit, train, manage, and support volunteer groups on citizen science and river restoration projects continued >
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