West Cumbria Rivers Trust wins prize

The trust teamed up with Eden and South Cumbria river trusts, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver the project which improves health and functioning across catchments of the rivers Derwent, Eden and Kent.

The work has restored around 8.7 miles of river to a more natural form.

The aim was to demonstrate to landowners, river managers and the wider community the benefits associated with environmentally sustainable river management that works with natural processes.

Stone walls along the banks of Whit Beck were failing, which could have caused flooding of farm land.

Unnaturally high sloped downstream sections of the beck were also making it difficult for aquatic plants to develop.

Partners worked to move the beck from its constraint site and increased its length, providing opportunity for a wider variety of habitats to form.

They also planted bank side trees to support a new wildlife corridor and set fencing back from the new river to provide for some natural regeneration of vegetation and prevent animal poaching.

Rory Stewart, minister responsible for water and floods, said: "Britain's rivers are among the most magnificent in the world and they are central to our environment, history and culture.

"The Derwent, Eden and Kent are prime examples of what can be achieved through successful partnership between local community groups and national bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency.

"The teams supporting these rivers show how local knowledge and expertise can better protect both our precious wildlife and our homes and business from the risk of flooding – so environmentally sustainable river management schemes work in harmony with nature.

"The Cumbria River Restoration Strategy partnership is a well-deserved winner of this prestigious award and, with all the finalists, I hope they can become excellent examples to communities across the country of how to we can better manage our beautiful rivers."