Exciting Additions to The Trust

We are proud to have recently welcomed five new members of staff into the Welland Rivers Trust this summer on a temporary basis to offer their skills across a wide range of roles. Humanities students Joe Franklin and Alex Leaver are focusing on promoting the online status of the Trust via our social media accounts and blogs (listed below) and updating the website: www.wellandriverstrust.org.uk so as to keep everyone across the Welland catchment who is interested in our work in the loop.

Working on the Stamford Mill Stream project we have two Zoology students; Nikki Warden and Cameron Grundy, and a Sixth Form student Leon Nixon, a Nuffield Research Ambassador. Their aim is to gather data by mapping river habitats from consecutive stretches of the Welland River and the Mill Stream in Stamford. Their findings will be used to determine whether or not redistributing water flow from the river to the historic stream would provide an overall benefit to the local ecology.

Twitter - https://twitter.com/WellandTrust or @WellandTrust

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WellandTrust

Tailoring the Project to the Community's Requests

Please click on the images below for an enlarged version: 

 

"A pond would be fun for the children."

 

"Litter is a big problem, especially through the town centre."

 

"You can't get near the river, the banks are too steep. It's quite dangerous in places."

 

"We don't see much interesting wildlife when walking along the river."

"My kids like to play in the river but there aren't many places for this. It would be great if schools could make more use of it too."

 

 

"I'd like to see more flowers and attractive vegetation."



Do you think we tackled the issues raised accordingly?

Don't hesitate to let us know your opinion either on the blog, via the e-mail option on the right hand site of the page, or through one of our social media sites below such as

Facebook (Welland Rivers Trust), or Twitter (@WellandTrust). 

Community Engagement

Throughout October and November 2012, a survey was conducted to find out the public attitudes towards the River in Market Harborough. We spoke to over 150 people and found that the majority of people’s comments could be categorised as follows:

- Aesthetics

 -Flooding

 -Accessibility/Education

 -Safety

 -Recreation

These comments were used to ensure that the aspirations and expectations of the people of Market Harborough were integrated with the science when producing the design for the restoration. We think we managed to find a perfect middle ground where both parties were sufficiently included and satisfied. Our next blog will include some of the more notable comments, and our responses.

Geography of the River Welland

The Geography of The River Welland

The River Welland rises near Sibbertoft, west of Market Harborough and flows through Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, before reaching Stamford, where it is one of the features that makes the town so attractive. Below Stamford, the river continues on its way to Market Deeping and Spalding where its character changes, slowing down as it becomes one of the four fenland rivers which drain the Fens, before entering The Wash.

Over the past 50 years the river has been deepened, straightened and polluted and as a result, there has been vast habitat loss which has greatly reduced the ecological value of the river. Alongside the reduction in wildlife, the river has been largely neglected as a source of amenity and recreation for those who live nearby.

The WRT exists to facilitate the protection and development of the River Welland via the creation and completion of several projects across the Welland.