Victoria Woods How did we do it? Urban River Enhancement Scheme Improving our Rivers for People and Wildlife

What did we want to do? What did we want to do? What did we have to start with ? What did we have to start with ? The Action Plan… The Action Plan… What we did What we did Legacy of URES… Legacy of URES… Urban River Enhancement Scheme

What did we want to do? Meet the key aims of our funders Meet the key aims of our funders Physically improve our natural river heritage Physically improve our natural river heritage Engage people in learning about our natural river heritage Engage people in learning about our natural river heritage Engage people in improving our natural river heritage Engage people in improving our natural river heritage rivers RRT Local Communities

What did we want to do? Meet the key aims of our funders Meet the key aims of our funders Physically improve our natural river heritage Physically improve our natural river heritage Engage people in learning about our natural river heritage Engage people in learning about our natural river heritage Engage people in improving our natural river heritage Engage people in improving our natural river heritage rivers RRT Local Communities ? Energy sink & is not sustainable

What do we want longer term? Communities Rivers Both local people and wildlife benefit from developing a positive and life long relationship with their own rivers Both local people and wildlife benefit from developing a positive and life long relationship with their own rivers

How to begin this process? Communities Rivers About the people of Burnley About the people of Burnley Who is our community? Who is our community? Where are they? Where are they? What do they currently think of rivers? What do they currently think of rivers? What do they want? What do they want? RRT About the rivers in Burnley About the rivers in Burnley Surveys (riverine species, EIA, invasive species, Site surveys) Surveys (riverine species, EIA, invasive species, Site surveys) Natural Heritage (geological, industrial, social, ecological) Natural Heritage (geological, industrial, social, ecological) Restoration options appraisal Restoration options appraisal Gather information

What did we have? Information… Hard to find & miss-information in the public domain Hard to find & miss-information in the public domain There is local knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm… There is local knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm… Steering group Steering group

What did we have? Condition of urban rivers… Physical barriers Physical barriers Poor quality habitats Poor quality habitats Difficult access, hidden rivers Difficult access, hidden rivers

What did we have? Communities… Community events Community events Activities & displays Activities & displays River wildlife River wildlife Questionnaires Questionnaires Presentations Presentations Pilot activities Pilot activities Clean-ups & H. balsam Clean-ups & H. balsam Habitat box making Habitat box making Training course in River Habitat Management Training course in River Habitat Management

Liked Liked What did we find out? Communities… Disliked Disliked What What Who Who Where Where When When How How

The Action Plan Communities Rivers RRT Accessible activities For people of all ages, abilities, interests and backgrounds That will also make a real difference…

The Action Plan  Sustainable by design – spiral of intervention  Target our effort  ‘minimum’ input for ‘maximum’ effect  Flexible enough to grow with the momentum of the project

Habitat improvement Burnley Town Centre Before = fast flowing barrier Before = fast flowing barrier After = pools & riffles resting places and O 2 After = pools & riffles resting places and O 2

Habitat improvements Burnley Divert the river Divert the river Re-profile the stone ‘sets’ Re-profile the stone ‘sets’

With river heritage information With river heritage information Combine physical improvements Thompson Park Fish Pass

Riverside renovations – improve the view

Celebrating Mayor visit MIGC official opening of the new fish pass Mayor visit MIGC official opening of the new fish pass

With local business Veolia Veolia Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility Alternate Thursdays Alternate Thursdays Start at Start at Variable number of people and length of time available Variable number of people and length of time available Activities successfully carried out: Activities successfully carried out: Clean-ups and balsam clearance Clean-ups and balsam clearance Install bird boxes & kingfisher tunnels Install bird boxes & kingfisher tunnels Boardwalk construction Boardwalk construction Renovate railings Renovate railings Landscape preparations Landscape preparations Mammal survey Mammal survey

With local groups Challenge Network Challenge Network Weekends in September Weekends in September Up to 60 young people at a time Up to 60 young people at a time Plan 6 months in advance Plan 6 months in advance Red Rose Recovery Red Rose Recovery Mid week events Mid week events Plan at short notice Plan at short notice Qualifications, press publicity, local river action group start up.. Qualifications, press publicity, local river action group start up..

With local groups

With Burnley Council new footpaths and bridges along our river Brun Opens new route through woodlands, meadows and riverside treasure trail Opens new route through woodlands, meadows and riverside treasure trail

With Burnley Youth Theatre When You See Water 800 young people learn about our river heritage through drama 800 young people learn about our river heritage through drama 250 young people in carnival performance 250 young people in carnival performance

Undercurrents

Legacy of URES

Legacy of URES – enjoying our rivers will be remembered…

Hidden water everywhere..? Ref: New Scientist