Celebrating 20 Years of Tyne Rivers Trust
Tyne Rivers Trust has a 20 year history of improving river health, habitat and acting as the voice of the Tyne and its tributaries. This improved diversity undoubtedly creates a better river, a better region and a better life for all, but as we celebrate the past 20 years, we must also look ahead to the next 20 as much is still to be done…
There’s only one place this blog post can begin and it’s with an enormous thank you to those who have helped us on our journey so far. Volunteers past and present, staff, trustees, partner organisations, funders and corporate supporters – you have made our vision come to life in many ways. Without you, the Trust would not exist and our vital work would still be largely unfinished.
Tyne Rivers Trust has a 20 year history of improving river health, habitat and acting as the voice of the Tyne and its tributaries. This improved diversity undoubtedly creates a better river, a better region and a better life for all, but as we celebrate the past 20 years, we must also look ahead to the next 20 as much is still to be done around awareness, practical conservation, education, improving fish populations and reducing pollution. Thanks to social media, events, partnerships and collaborations with people of all ages across the catchment, there are more people engaged via national media conversation and locally via word of mouth than ever. It is clear how much people care about their local river and we welcome help from those who live and work in the catchment.
Key challenges for us continue to be pollution, climate change, obstructions and more recently, how best to harness increased awareness regarding sewage and river health using the finite resources available to us. Our mission back in 2004 was to improve the wellbeing of the Tyne rivers and people through education, tackling pollution and practical conservation and that very much remains the case today in 2024.
As many of you will no doubt have begun the new year with resolutions, we invite you to consider making a small pledge to support the Tyne rivers and our work. Let us start by looking at the bigger picture of river health and conservation, before distilling the key issues down into practical solutions whatever your age, location or capacity to commit to supporting the river Tyne and its tributaries.
The Big Picture – what are TRT doing in 2024 to create a better river, region and life for all?
- Protecting endangered species through practical conservation
- Designing and delivering natural flood management interventions in key areas of the catchment
- Opening up the river to as many migrating species as possible by designing and building both large-scale fish passes and smaller fish easements to help improve fish populations
- Tackling invasive species throughout the catchment
- Work with local groups and communities to run activities that engage people with their local river in fun and creative ways, like our new Oral History project.
- Training more volunteers to learn how to measure river health in their local area
- Slowing the flow of fine sediment to improve habitats and biodiversity
- We’re working to tackle the remains of metal mining in the Pennines which still pollutes the river today
- Collaborating with local farmers to identify ways to stop pollution entering the river on/near their land
- Building rain gardens to help protect and preserve urban river habitats and prevent flooding
Make a pledge this year to support our work, it needn’t cost you a lot of time or money, but together we can make a big impact!
They’re easy to do and either no cost or low cost and we’ll help you along the way, with easy and inexpensive hints and tips on how to keep your promise and live a more sustainable life for our rivers, communities and our planet.
