December 2022
Message from the Chair
"Many thanks to our partners and supporters for all your work in helping to improve the environment of the Bristol Avon throughout 2022. I hope you have a great Christmas and an equally successful 2023."
- Richard Cresswell
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Welcome Jude - Our new Environmental Apprentice
Jude Norman is the latest addition of the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership team, joining as an Environmental Administrative Apprentice. The apprenticeship will last around two years, and Jude will complete a Level 3 in Business Administration affiliated with Weston College.
Jude is an accomplished musician and has just finished a two-year Level 3 music course at Salisbury College. Jude is looking forward to working for BACP particularly due to the ethical and environmental good the Partnership does for the Bristol Avon region.
To help the team, Jude will be being involved in lots of administration roles, from supporting the newsletter and updating the website, to attending partnership meetings and taking minutes.
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BACP attends the Severn Estuary Partnership Forum
On Wednesday 12th September, Zoe Hancock (BACP Catchment Co-ordinator) was invited to speak at the Severn Estuary Partnership Forum 2022. This provided the BACP with a great platform to raise awareness of the BACP Catchment Plan that was launched in March this year.
It also provided a great opportunity to share more information about the developing Bristol Avon Fish Recovery Strategy. Many of the organisations and partners were keen to learn more about the future opportunities for restoring the rivers and streams within our catchment for wildlife, especially fish!
To find out more about what was discussed at the SEP Forum, please access their website for full details: Severn Estuary Forum 2022 – Severn Estuary Partnership
Zoe also had the opportunity to present to the ASERA (Association of Severn Estuary Relevant Authorities) Board on Wednesday 23rd November. This provided another good opportunity to strengthen our links with the organisations working in the Severn Estuary and understand how we can keep collaborating to improve the water environment, from both a riverine and marine perspective.
(Weir on River Chew - one of the many obstructions for migratory fish to pass to access spawning habitat in the headwaters of the catchment. Photo credit: Bristol Avon Rivers Trust)
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Beavers in the Bristol Avon
With the gradual increase of beavers living within our rivers over the last two decades, the requirement to understand where they are and what habitat is required to support them is also growing. Avon Wildlife Trust is working with a range of partners to develop a Beaver Management Plan for the Bristol Avon catchment. The Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership provided support for the Beaver Project in 2021 via the Catchment Partnership Fund.
As part of this Beaver Project, Avon Wildlife Trust is working to carry out research in the area to help our understanding and better our relationship with beavers. Natural England has surveyed the catchment and mapped where beaver territories are, along with gathering a range of expertise, resources and viewpoints from multiple sources.
The importance of our ability to coexist has only become more apparent, and understanding their health and wellbeing must be taken seriously, but the concerns on how they affect the areas around their territories also needs to be considered. Looking into 2023, more development of the beaver project is being planned, with further surveys taking place to help increase our understanding of how to welcome and manage beavers within the environment in the future.
To read more about beavers within our catchment and to report a sighting, head to Avon Wildlife Trust's website here.
(An impressive dam of approx. 20m in length in woodland in the Somerset Frome sub-catchment. Photo credit: Natural England)
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Community spotlight: 'Trout it the Trym'
On Friday 11th November, Peter Coleman Smith and Jon Ogborne appeared on Bristol Community FM radio to discuss the state of the rivers within the Bristol area. Peter’s interest lies particularly along the River Trym, hence his work with the “Trout in the Trym”, a group of volunteers made up from several local eco groups dedicated to improving the health of the river for the community. The pair spoke of the presence of trout in the river. It was previously thought that, due to the poor quality of the water, trout no longer swam through the River Trym. However, the pair have in fact found live trout swimming in the water, and Peter and Jon’s excitement of this discovery eventually led through to them creating “The Fishtolian”, a podcast documenting their adventures around the Bristol riverscape, and how trying to improve the quality of our rivers is not a lost cause.
Next year, the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership will be working alongside Trout in the Trym to help support a project that will include a survey to see if there are any water voles living along the river. If they are found, then the group will work with others to understand how the habitat can be improved for their livelihoods, and how they can be encouraged to the area in future. Water voles are an endangered species in the UK, and are an integral part the diverse, delicate ecosystem of our rivers.
To listen to the interview, follow the link here, and scroll down on the left until you reach "Mid mornings" on Friday 11th November.
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News from around the Catchment
BART River Detectives Project
The project will provide more frequent citizen science data on the health of our rivers, giving us a better understanding of water quality in the catchment. It is also a great chance for the public to reconnect with their local rivers and streams. Data from this project will be displayed on an interactive map on the BART website, a novel way for the wider public to view the health and wellbeing of their local rivers.
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust are currently looking for more volunteers to help along the River Chew. To learn more about this project or register an interest in volunteering please contact: Molly@bristolavonriverstrust.org
Bristol Water Consultation - Water Resource Management Plan Consultation
As part of the long-term management and planning for public water supply, water companies are required to produce a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) and update it every five years. Bristol Water are currently in the process of reviewing their plan for 2024, with their first draft published and ready for public consultation.
This consultation will be open for a period of 12 weeks from 28th November 2022 to 17th February 2023. Full details of how to respond are available on their website here. To support the consultation process, Bristol Water will be running a stakeholder event in January 2023, an opportunity to share thoughts on the plan. Details on how to sign up will be revealed soon.
Bristol Water understands the delicate balance of people and the environment, and aims to continue their delivery of secure, sustainable water, whilst also protecting and enhancing the environment.
Wessex Water - Water Resource Management Plan Consultation
Wessex Water has also published a draft of their Water Resources Management Plan, ready for public consultation.
As part of the consultation, Wessex Water will be hosting a webinar event on Monday 9th January 2023 from 13:00 – 15:00. Here, the draft plan will be presented, shortly followed by a statement of response as to how they have accounted for each representation. If you wish to attend, email: wrmpconsultation@wessexwater.co.uk with “WRMP webinar” in the subject field.
A new draft plan will be revised in Spring of 2023.
All comments on the draft plan are welcome, and any representations must be submitted to the Secretary of State by 6th February 2023. This can be done by either post or by email. To respond via email, please contact either water.resources@defra.gov.uk or wrmpconsultation@wessexwater.co.uk. Please include “Wessex Water” in the email subject field.
To find out more, head to the Wessex Water website here.
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News from further afield
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Cumbria Wildlife Trust have released four amazing short videos all about "slowing the flow". Go give them a watch here - Combating the effects of climate change | Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Thrilling confirmation of return of rare fish in the River Severn
Priority/Threatened Species Grant Scheme opening in 2023
If you want to talk through any project ideas you may have, please get in touch with any existing Natural England local point of contact you have or contact the BACP via: info@bristolavoncatchment.co.uk. Indicative budgets for the programme for England are £15m for 2023/24 and £12m for 2024/25. The estimated grants scheme launch date is expected to be 1st April 2023 (or as soon as possible afterwards).