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Dear Tamar Catchment Partnership Members,

Welcome to the Spring news round up from the catchment:
- Dates for the Diary
- Tamara Landscape Partnership Update
- Tamar Water Stewardship Business Board Blog
- Beavers on the Tamar
- Cotehele Intertidal Habitat Creation Update
- Plymouth River Keepers Update
- Preventing Plastic Pollution Update
- New Soils Videos from the EA
- Devon & Cornwall Soils Alliance Webinar
- WEIF Funding update
- Urban Tree Challenge Fund 
- Wood in Management Grant
- Good Farm Waste Management Advice
- New Catchment Data Explorer
- The Rivers Trust Sewage Map
- New Countryside Code & similar resources

If you have anything you would like to be shared with the partnership please email Freya and it can be added to the next newsletter (Summer- 20/08/21) 

Dates for the Diary
Now that we've arrived in a new financial year, we have been taking a bit of a forward look for the Catchment Partnership over the next few months and have ear-marked the following provisional meeting dates for your diaries: 
  • Summer meeting Wednesday 14th July, online from 10:00 - 12:00 (agenda to be sent out nearer the time)
  • Autumn meeting October TBC (full partnership event - mini conference/networking opportunity)
  • Winter meeting January 2022 TBC
  •  
  • Summer Newsletter - Friday 20th August deadline for content submission 13th August
  • Autumn Newsletter - Monday 29th August deadline for content submission 22nd November
  • Winter Newsletter - Monday 24th January deadline for content submission 17th January
We may schedule additional meetings & workshops if needed in order to input into various statutory consultations due to take place this year including the Flood Risk Management Plan (from April), the Water Framework Reasons for Not Achieving Good status (from April) and the Drainage and Waste Water Management Plans (also from April). Partners are also welcome to request additional meetings to focus on specific topics such as focus areas, project development etc.

Tamara Landscape Partnership: Update

Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme officially launched at AONB Annual Forum

The £3.2 million Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme was officially launched at an online event earlier this week, to celebrate the Scheme and showcase the array of other projects taking place across the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
 
Devon County Councillor, Philip Sanders, on behalf of the Tamar Valley AONB Partnership, welcomed almost 100 delegates to the AONB Annual Forum and launch event, where an exciting range of projects within the 5-year Tamara Scheme were revealed.

Peter Neal, National Lottery Heritage Fund Committee Member, England, London & South, described Tamara as ‘an excellent project, terrific in proceeding to delivery stage’. The NLHF awarded £2.3 million to Tamara. Peter thanked National Lottery players for enabling such schemes, and was delighted to see over 20 partners involved in Tamara, as ‘building fruitful partnerships is at the heart of all landscape partnerships’. 

James Luxton, Scheme Manager for Tamara, described the scheme’s 10 project areas in detail and explained how the Tamar Valley landscape, heritage and communities will all benefit. 

Key details of the project include: 

•    Apprenticeships and internships to improve job prospects and to provide support for local businesses 
•    Advice and grants for farmers to reinstate landscapes and maintain traditional skills
•    Community allotments with training opportunities and reintroduction of heritage varieties
•    Social prescribing, including walking, running, art and bush craft
•    Opportunities and support for local businesses as the Tamar Valley strives to become the destination for a low-carbon, sustainable holiday
•    Benefits for walkers as the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail will be extended to reach the coast.

If you are part of an organisation that would like to be involved in Tamara over the next 5 years, would like to volunteer, or are interested in finding out more, please contact jluxton@tamarvalley.org.uk

If you were unable to attend the launch event, you can watch it here.
 
More info on the projects here
Aerial photograph of the Tamar Valley (Picture Tobi O'Neil - TON Drone Services)

Tamar Water Stewardship Business Board Blog
Working Together For Water Quality
In the latest Tamar Water Stewardship Business Board (TWSBB) blog, Perry Hobbs, Head of Environment at South West Water (SWW) tells us more about how being a part of the TWSBB has benefited the water company with a greater understanding of the importance of the food production and supply chain sector on water quality.
TWSBB Blogs

Beavers On The Tamar
There is now a significant population of beavers living wild on the River Tamar catchment, and a Beaver Management Group is being established to oversee their management and provide landowners and other river users with advice and support.  The beavers are moving great distances throughout the interconnected watercourses that make up the catchment, and as well as being in the main stem of the river down into the estuary, they are in many of the tributaries including the Inny, Carey, and Wolf.  

If you would like to be involved with the Beaver Management Group, or have questions, concerns or would like advice about beavers that may be living on your land, please make contact with Mark Elliott – beavers@devonwildlifetrust.org
A beaver feeding on riverside willow (picture David White)

Cotehele Intertidal Habitat Creation: Project Update

Work has begun to create a series of channels within the field to help bring tidal waters in. A new embankment is also being built by the quay car park which will form the boundary of the new intertidal habitat and help protect the car park.

Later in the year a small breach will be created in the existing 19th century bank to allow tidal waters to regularly flow into the channels across the field, beginning the creation of a richer habitat for nature that will take place over the coming years.
More info here
Works starting on stretch of land by the River Tamar (Photo Steven Haywood).

Plymouth River Keepers: Project Update
WRT Fisheries Team have completed the first phase of SNIFFER surveys of 19 fish migration barriers. Along with this, our team of Westcountry CSI Volunteers in the project area continues to grow, but there are still a few sample points looking for volunteers in Ernesettle, Southway and on the Tamerton Stream, so if you are interested in joining us please get in touch by emailing Jenny@wrt.org.uk
Dr Polly Couldrick (WRT River and Fisheries Team Leader) assessing a man-made structure for its ‘pass-ability’ for fish.

Preventing Plastic Pollution: Project Update
PPP is a three-year, €14m EU INTERREG VA France (Channel) England Programme funded project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund that works across seven pilot areas.
The information gathered from research in these pilot areas will allow the cross-Channel partnerships to tackle plastic waste that enters the sea via rivers every year.

Community litter cleans 
Our community clean events are now underway following Covid restrictions, with 5 completed to date. As an example, we had an excellent river clean between Calstock and Morwellham Quay in April with Students and staff of Duchy College.  The event was planned and executed by the students who wanted a fun event, that also made a difference to the Environment.
We are co-ordinating our events with PCC, and have linked up with organisations such as 2 minute clean, Rame Pennisular Beach Clean,  MAI adventures and the Pentillie Estate.
Business Engagement
As part of our interventions to help reduce the impact of plastics in the catchment, we will be working with SMEs to help them reduce their plastic and waste impacts.  This will include free confidential help undertaking waste audits and developing effective action plans   
As a part of our business engagement, we are also working with farmers to provide assistance on how they store and dispose of their plastic. As part of this, we have produced, with the EA, a Farm Plastic Management leaflet, which is freely available to download and distribute
Contacts
To find out more on community events contact Lydia@wrt.org.uk,
To find out more on how businesses can reduce their plastic impact contact Andy@wrt.org.uk
Visit wrt.org.uk/project/preventing-plastic-pollution-ppp/ , or email plastics@wrt.org.uk to find out more on the project in general

New Soil Videos
The Environment Agency have recently produced a two part video with Dr Richard Smith (Soils Technical Specialist in the Environment Agency). He shows a typical soil erosion incident in the South West to raise awareness and understanding about the issue and the challenges for farmers working in difficult conditions, both with economic pressure and very wet weather. 

Soil erosion related to the wet weather (Part 1)

Soil erosion related to the wet weather (Part 2)

Devon & Cornwall Soils Alliance Webinar
Join a Teams Webinar from 10am to 11.30am on Wednesday 2nd  June for and update on the Devon and Cornwall Soils Alliance (DCSA) activities during the last year, and hear from:
  • Westcountry CEO Dr Laurence Couldrick
  • Brendon Hunter, Agri-Environment Advisor with ADAS
  • Hugh Davey, Project Manager from Devon & Cornwall Land Management at the Environment Agency
  • Professor Jenny Dungait - Soil Health Expert
Register here

EA Environment Program Refresh 21
Partners are invited to submit partnership projects that are being planned to deliver against the actions in the Tamar Catchment Plan for next round of funds Water Environment Improvement Funds (WEIF).
Projects need to address WFD, Priority Species or Priority Habitats and the actions in the Catchment Plan and meet certain other criteria to complete a mandate that can be submitted for consideration.

A separate email will be sent soon with more specific details of what information is required, but in the meantime please do get in touch via freya@wrt.org.uk if you would like more information on accessing this funding.

Please note: WEIF is awarded through Partnership Grants so applicants need to be registered charities

Urban Tree Challenge Fund
The UTCF reopened for applications. Fully subscribed during the first round this grant supports the planting of 44,000 large standard trees. The window will be open for applications until 25th July for anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban settings.
More info here

Woods into Management Grant
Presently around 41% of our woodlands are not actively managed and this can have a negative impact on the biodiversity they contain. The Woods into Management (WiM) Forestry Innovation Funds are being launched as part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund. The WiM Forestry Innovation Funds aim to restore vulnerable woodland habitats and help woodlands adapt to a changing climate and recover from the impacts of pests and diseases.
This grant supports innovation in three areas:
  • Creating routes to market for ash timber
  • Temporary infrastructure to access woods
  • Regional woodland restoration
More info here

Good Waste Management On Farms
The Environment Agency has produced a Key Actions for Farmers document, focusing on resource efficiency and waste. The document presents a clear set of messages and actions that farmers can take to manage their environmental impact, bringing together existing regulatory requirements and good practice, covering 3 themes:
 
1.    Manage resources sustainably (reduce, reuse and then recycle)
2.    Manage waste well (clean, separate and store securely for collection by an EA registered waste collector)
3.    Protect livelihoods (soil, water, livestock)
 
Based on the key actions, a plastic waste management advice sheet has been produced with Westcountry Rivers Trust. Please share with farmers and send any feedback to Fiona.tovey@environment-agency.gov.uk
View the Advice Sheet Here

New BETA version of Catchment Data Explorer
View the new catchment data explorer

The Rivers Trust Sewage Map
The Rivers Trust has created an interactive online map showing where the sewerage network discharges and overflows into rivers across the UK. The Rivers Trust believes that the public should be able to make informed decisions about where they choose to swim, paddle and play in UK rivers.
Rivers Trust Sewage Map

Give Nature Space – Leave No Trace
A number of environmental/visitor awareness initiatives have been launched to coincide with the lifting of lockdown restrictions and the ‘Great Staycation’ anticipated this summer, in order to welcome visitors to the region and encourage environmentally considerate behaviours during their stay. These include:
  • The Countryside Code, which has been reviewed and updated, and Natural England and DEFRA have also created a Partners Toolkit of content for you to use in your communications, digitally and to print. 
  • The National Association of AONBs has also been working on some similar resources but some with a more aquatic and marine flavor.
New Countryside Code
Countryside Code Refresh Partner Toolkit
AONBs resources
Website
Our mailing address is:
freya@wrt.org.uk

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Westcountry Rivers Trust · Rain Charm House, Kyl Cober Parc · Stoke Climsland · Plymouth, Cornwall PL17 8PH · United Kingdom

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