Dear Tamar Catchment Partnership Members,
We hope this newsletter finds you well in this difficult and uncertain time.
Please read on for an update on our situation due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, followed by some good news stories and updates from around the catchment.
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COVID-19
We are all now coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives and the way we all work. Although we are facing the same thing, it will be affecting us all differently at an individual level but also at the organisational level. Westcountry Rivers Trust (your catchment partnership host) has implemented measures to minimise risk to our staff, partners, and supporters through this period. You can read our COVID-19 Response Policy and ongoing updates at Working Practices During COVID-19
You can access the latest advice on the situation from Public Health England.
Your Catchment Partnership Officer, Freya is working from home and able to respond to emails as usual. Contact details remain the same, including the website http://my-tamar.org/
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns. Do, however, keep in mind that this is a changing situation. There is a possibility that, across all organisations within the partnership, some staff may be unavailable. Also, online communications systems are likely to be under pressure due to increased demand. This could mean we may not be able to respond as quickly as we would normally, but we will keep in touch nevertheless!
We will be not be holding any face-to-face events or networking opportunities until further notice. The steering group will still be meeting virtually to continue to build up the picture of catchment activity and renewing the catchment plan where possible.
Please get in touch if you have any news to share with the partnership or feed into the strategic planning.
As the situation unfolds over the next few months, do remember that we are a collaborative network and can still achieve a great deal by working together. |
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Challenges & Choices Consultation
DEADLINE EXTENDED to 24th September 2020
There is still time to have your say on the future of how we manage our water and local environments in the long term. If you need some inspiration to help with your response take a look at the workshop notes.
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Have you responded?
Please do let us know if you have taken part in the consultation and if you are happy to share your submission please do send us a copy of the response pdf - it will be really valuable to have your views as we work on renewing that catchment plan.
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The Challenges - videos
You can watch the videos for each challenge on the home page of the Tamar Catchment Partnership Website http://my-tamar.org/
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Dartmoor National Park Management Plan
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There is still time to submit your comments on the Management Plan consultation - deadline 31st May 2020
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Cotehele inter-tidal habitat creation
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The National Trust at Cotehele are leading a key partnership project that aims to create up to 2Ha of important intertidal habitat on the Tamar Estuary,
The land located near to the quay is currently of low grazing and habitat value and floods frequently making it ideal for intertidal habitat that will benefit wildlife, plant species, and visitors to Cotehele Quay.
A series of public consultation events were held in February to help the partnership comprising local communities, Environment Agency and Natural England firms up its plans.
The new habitat is part of a catchment wide approach and aims to help address the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis.
The project hopes to be completed by the end of 2021.
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CPES (Channel Payments for Ecosystem Services)
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THOUSANDS of trees have been planted by volunteers near Roadford Lake, Devon, as part of a collaboration between environmental charities and businesses to improve water quality and habitat.
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While we are currently on lockdown due to Covid-19, WRT is busy gathering and analysing data, including water quality and 2017 site survey data. Our Evidence and Engagement Team is liaising with our Rivers and Fisheries Team to plan future walkover surveys, electrofishing surveys, habitat management, and potential removal of fish barriers.
The Bioregional Learning Centre have begun their stakeholder interviews, providing the project with valuable local information and the beginnings of a social network.
A new web page will be available for the project via wrt.org.uk in the coming weeks..
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New Recreation ReMEDIES project
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The LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES project, led by Natural England, will protect seagrass meadows - a critically endangered EU red listed habitat which are easily damaged and slow to recover. They are threatened by anchoring, mooring and launching of recreational boats, as well as trampling from walkers and bait collectors. The project will provide environmentally friendly moorings, voluntary codes, targeted training and habitat restoration, in five areas across southern England.
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Protecting Peatlands & Carbon Rich Soils
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A new report providing guidance for Catchment Partnerships on peatland protection and restoration, describing the availability of mapped data to determine extent and type of peatland, the provision of information to determine the reduction in emissions from restoration projects, explanation of associated ecosystem service benefits and, examples of business models.
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CaBA Coastal & Estuarine Data Package and Explorer
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The CaBA Coastal Data Explorer is a free Web App which allows you to access and explore the data without the need for any specialist GIS software or prior GIS experience. You can use the app to view datasets, create your own simple maps and export data for your area of interest.
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Put your name down today to be a CSI River Keeper with our Westcountry Citizen Science Investigations in the future.
Find out more at: Become a Citizen Scientist or you can get in touch with the CSI coordinator Lydia, here csi@wrt.org.uk
New updates to the website, survey forms, and supporting information are now live
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The Government announced that open water swimming is possible from Wednesday 13 May.
Please take note of the guidance in the following resources to ensure you stay safe & healthy:
Government swim healthy leaflet
England open water swimming advice
Is my river fit to swim in?
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EA Incident Hotline - if you see pollution to water or land, including dead fish or fish gasping for air, call 0800 80 70 60.
Check, clean, dry - prevent the spread of invasive species by looking after your kit. Click here for more info.
Love your loo - only flush the 3Ps - pee, paper, and poo - down the loo. Click here for more info.
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