To prevent pollution, improve river access, and create habitat for wildlife on the River Waveney.
by Martha in Bungay, England, United Kingdom
Our stretch target means we will have enough to cover all the work on the river for one year!
The seasonally varied environmental conditions mean this job is never done, and more extreme weather events due to the climate crisis are adding to the work needed. Gale force winds lead to higher numbers of fallen trees. Hot, dry summers mean less and warmer waters supporting the growth of increasingly vigorous plant growth over long periods, blocking the channel every summer.
A source of drinking water, a home to wildlife and a place to unwind, the River Waveney offers so much. Sadly it is also suffering from pollution, lack of management and loss of habitat for wildlife.
We are looking to raise £20,000 to help manage the river for water quality, wildlife, angling, canoeing, and swimming.
£1,000 allows us to reinstate water flow and paddle access along approximately 1 kilometre of the river.
£10,000 will allow us to protect naturally woody habitats and relocate approximately 10 large trees that have created obstacles to swimming and fishing across the river.
Like in the example below:
Believe it or not, the before image shows the river swamped by grass, preventing light and oxygen from entering the water below. The brown mass in the foreground shows the overturned roots of an alder that have fallen across the channel.
The 'after' picture shows the same stretch of water and tree after it is relocated and pinned to the bank so that the water can flow freely and there is access for angling and canoeing.
Why don't we remove the trees?
Trees provide a four-dimensional reef-like structure in the river channel with many hiding places and homes for new life to colonise. As water is forced to redirect through and around the tree, it helps oxygenate surface waters and varies river flows. This creates variety in the river, creating many different habitats for plants and animals - including places for fish to spawn and young fish to shelter from predators and floods.
A tree like the one above looks exquisitely beautiful, arching over the water and is best left. It provides a wonderful place for fishing kingfishers to perch! When positioned right across the river though, trees can snag debris and cause a build-up of dense vegetation and rubbish upstream. In a healthy river, this doesn't significantly impact the river. However, the Waveney is under tremendous stress from lack of water in summer, artificial barriers preventing fish from migrating, pollution and historic changes to channel structure. High nutrients and slow flows allow plants to grow unchecked. They then smother the water's surface. A fallen tree in the wrong places makes these problems worse, so we want to pin the trees in the water to retain the benefits they provide without causing an obstruction.
People's enjoyment of the river
People's enjoyment of the river
Your contribution to this fund will pay towards maintenance on the river that supports access for angling, wild swimming and kayaking. Through volunteer work parties, work to pin trees to the banks and sensitive cutting; we aim to ensure a meandering path through the aquatic vegetation is always present on the river.
Through doing this work, local business can even be provided with sustainable materials, such as common club rush. Volunteers, a local thatcher, and furniture makers joined this summer to harvest the rush that will be dried over winter and used for woven seating.
Also planned this year is to reopen the congested stretch of river between Bungay and Earsham. This popular stretch is no longer accessible by canoe, and our contractor is lined up to open a meandering channel sensitively.
From April 2024, we have no funding to carry out this work on the river. We hope this campaign will raise enough for next year and and into the future so we can continue doing this work on behalf of all who have known and loved the river for many years.
Funds are already in place for a dedicated project officer to, support our wonderful volunteers with training (and cake!) and to carry out weekly canoe work parties to eradicate the highly invasive plant species floating pennywort. The rest is up to you.
Please donate to the River Waveney Trust to help us work with volunteers and trusted partners to help manage the river for people and wildlife.
Please give generously whatever you can afford.
The River Waveney Trust was formed in 2012 with a vision to ensure that the river's waters, habitats and catchment are healthy for wildlife and people. We work throughout the Waveney catchment on various projects, including practical conservation, advice and education. We are also applying for a designated bathing water area on the River Waveney alongside this project.
This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.