Aim of the Trent Rivers Trust

The Trent Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity established to promote the preservation, protection and improvement of the rivers and streams in the Trent catchment and the wildlife they support and to increase awareness and understanding of the management of water and the wider environment.

Trent Rivers Trust tackle livestock watering problem using solar powered animal drinks

Picture of the solar drink and some satified customers

Fencing of river banks is an important tool used in habitat restoration schemes. However, the drinking requirements of livestock have always to be considered. Often this results in expensive and often metered main supply. Trent Rivers Trust have installed solar powered livestock drinks on the River Eye at Melton Mowbray after the riverbank was fenced off and planted with black poplar.

The solar panel charges a large battery which runs the pump to top up the water trough. However, on sunny days when the battery is fully charged the pump takes power directly from the panel and pumps water from the river into the trough.

Trent Rivers Trust was established in 2001 to promote the reintroduction of salmon to the catchment. With its need for ample clean, cool water, good habitat and free access between river and sea, the salmon is an iconic species indicative of a river environment in good condition. This ongoing project involves the annual introduction of juvenile salmon into suitable tributaries of the Trent, working to ensure their migration routes are not impeded, and campaigning to protect clean, cool water. Read more about salmon in the Trent. Click on the image below.

Recently the Trust has broadened its scope and has been working in the Peak District to improve river habitats and reduce the impacts of agriculture. A fishing passport scheme was established in 2009 improving access for visiting anglers, providing income to local farmers and engendering better stewardship of these watercourses.

We have also been working very closely with the Environment Agency. In relation to delivering Water Framework Directive targets.

Streams and rivers are intimately connected to the landscapes they drain - a river in poor condition reflects a catchment in poor condition. Our aim is to work in partnership to achieve a healthy river and a healthy landscape.

Polluted water is a problem if we have to drink it. However, it can also be a problem for the plants, insects and fish that require clean water to survive. Traditionally, we accepted that water can become polluted because we discharge waste into it. Now, we also know that water can be polluted because of waste produced from across whole landscapes (excess fertiliser, annual manure or soil). This type of waste comes from a large number of places (e.g. fields) but in small amounts. It becomes a problem because it gets funnelled into our rivers where the concentrations can be very high. This is called diffuse pollution. Across the world we are trying to improve our rivers and streams for the living creatures that are being impacted upon by diffuse pollution. How can we make our rivers and streams clean again?

SCIMAP  Diffuse risk modelling framework

Fish for wild brown trout and grayling in the stunning Peak District.

UK eel population in crisis

Environment Agency Hotline -0800 80 70 60      

About the Trent Rivers Trust

The Trent Rivers Trust is a registered charity limited by guarantee.

Patrons of the Trust are:

Sir James Hawley H.M. Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire

Jack Charlton OBE

John Jackson OBE

Mitch Stevenson OBE DL Hon MA O

Anthony Wilkinson DL

Timothy Dalton

The Trust has 6 Trustees and one full time employee: The Trust Manager, David Bamford, and three part time staff.

Andrew Heath, Peak Angling Passport, Adrian Rochford, Farming and Agriculture Advisor and Ron Trevis River Mease Himalayan Balsam Project.

Please consider making a donation. However small.

The Trust guarantee that your contribution will be spent only on projects that are strategically important to conservation, and you can be sure that administration and overheads are kept at an absolute minimum. We also guarantee that every penny from our donors is spent preserving and protecting our environment.

    

Registered address:

Trent Rivers Trust

C/O Environment Agency

Trentside Offices

Scarrington Road

West Bridgford

Nottingham NG2 5FA