As part of its Get River Positive programme, Anglian Water has announced its latest collaborative partnership with East Mercia Rivers Trust (EMRT), by awarding the trust over half a million pounds for a range of projects across the Welland and Witham catchments.  Launched in 2022, in partnership with Severn Trent Water, Get River Positive is Anglian Water’s commitment to protect and revitalise rivers, underpinned by five meaningful pledges.

Since Get River Positive’s launch, £7 million of investment from shareholders has enabled the water company to achieve over £9 million in match funding, investing in 53 projects with 44 primary beneficiaries. Anglian Water’s work with EMRT supports the initiative’s third pledge, to support others to improve and care for rivers.

Working with a range of community and conservation catchment partners, the award is supporting EMRT’s ambitious programme on the Witham catchment to accelerate the restoration of Lincolnshire’s internationally rare chalk streams. Suffering from historical modifications and a range of pressures, Lincolnshire’s chalk streams are in poor health. Yet they are critical for the survival of many iconic species such as the water vole.  The funding is also contributing to the landscape recovery plans of the Upper Witham and Limestone Becks, ecologically valuable limestone habitats, which once provided cover for notorious highwaymen.  Across the UK, it is estimated that only 3000 hectares of this species-rich lowland wetland remain. With Rutland Water located on the Welland catchment, restoration efforts are focused on improving water quality, enhancing urban riverscapes and reducing the risk of flooding by engaging with landowners to install nature-based and natural flood management measures.

All these activities are bolstered by a programme of engagement centred on the newly formed Rivers Academy. Hosted by the National Trust at Belton Estate, EMRT has created the first permanent centre for rivers, to promote education and engagement amongst people of all ages and backgrounds. Still in its infancy, the funding will take the initiative to the next level in delivering curriculum and citizen science-based workshops.

Dr Robin Price, Director of Quality and Environment at Anglian Water, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the East Mercia Rivers Trust on this vital partnership to revitalise our region’s precious rivers. We know how important rivers and the wider environment are to our customers and local communities.

“Our Get River Positive programme is designed to make sure our rivers are the healthiest they can be – but we can’t do it alone. Working collaboratively is key to driving real action and making the changes we all want to see. That’s why partnerships, like this one with East Mercia Rivers Trust, are so vital in building a better future for our rivers and environment.”

Rachel Butler, EMRT’s Executive Director welcomed the partnership, “We all need to play to our strengths to tackle the nature and climate crises we face. EMRT views this award as a start of a long-term collaboration with Anglian Water, but in the immediate term it will allow us to build on our recent delivery successes and increase the ambition to go bigger and bolder with river restoration projects.

“EMRT shares Anglian Water’s commitment to upscaling education and engagement activities, so we are particularly pleased this element received the support it did. As the catchment partnership host for the Witham and the Welland, we feel it is critical to build baseline data through citizen science to inform catchment priorities and support the emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategies. We also recognise that developing a range of volunteering activities increases opportunities for people to improve their health and well-being by connecting to nature.”