Climate resilience: timing is everything
Reflecting on our Climate Resilience Workshop in collaboration with the Monkton Village Association earlier in January, what issues are we targeting and what needs further discussion in 2024?
Almost everything we do is connected to reducing the effects of climate change in our catchment. With more extreme weather conditions and a rise in water temperatures, rivers will be greatly impacted by climate change which is why our work to reduce its effects is vital.
As we write this, we are two months into a very busy tree planting season across the catchment. Working tirelessly with volunteers to plan thousands of trees in targeted areas. As trees grow, they absorb and store the carbon dioxide emissions that are causing global heating, so planting more trees is just one practical mitigation tool in our ‘toolbox’ against climate change. We are planting native species in different locations around the catchment this season, starting at Hillhead Farm in Wark. The farm has a rich mosaic of existing habitats and we’ll be introducing more hedgerow corridors, replacing storm damaged conifers and complementing existing planting and woodland blocks with a variety of native species to help biodiversity flourish.
We are also acutely aware of water temperatures rising and understand how this can have a detrimental effect on the biodiversity of the river as a result. The river can only provide so much food so we need to ensure that its population can spread out and access all of the river. Fish Passes are one example of ensuring that fish can get over man-made obstacles such as weirs to move up-river. Thanks to funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, we are embarking on an ambitious 18-month project which began in Autumn 2023 to address challenges faced by endangered freshwater species, with the first intervention just completed.
The MaST project, so named using the Latin names for Freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and trout (Salmo trutta), will focus on habitat creation and enhancement for these rare species which can only thrive in clean water environments. The North Tyne and the River Rede once represented strongholds for freshwater pearl mussels. The rivers remain a stronghold for salmon and trout on which freshwater pearl mussels depend during their most fragile life stage, yet the freshwater pearl mussel population is in serious decline and under threat of extinction.
The MaST project started in September 2023 and will address the multitude of challenges these species face including: removing barriers to fish migration, reducing excessive input of nutrients and fine sediment, mitigating habitat loss and; guarding against the impact of extreme flows and temperatures. Tyne Rivers Trust have recently constructed a fish pass on a weir on the Broomhope burn in the lower Rede valley, alongside the installation of 25 baulks through a 70m long culvert to disrupt the flow of water during flood events. Rubber baulks are traditionally used in car parks, but in this instance will allow migratory fish and trout access to over 1.5km of spawning habitat, the latter of which is vitally important to Pearl Mussels. Future works will include new woodland and wetland creation, in-river habitat improvements and green engineering techniques to address major sources of fine sediment and agricultural pollution. The project will also work with local communities and land managers to raise awareness about these fascinating creatures and how they can help protect them.
Timing is everything when it comes to climate change and our ability to minimise its impact. However not all our efforts hit the mark…
If you purchased our 2024 charity calendar, you’ll know what a stunning location the Tyne catchment is from the images included. Climate change is affecting how ecosystems function, that much is clear. Shifts in temperature and ‘traditional’ seasonal conditions are causing species to react differently and interrupting food chains. For those who are looking at their 2024 Tyne Rivers Trust charity calendar you also have a unique opportunity to try out our human equivalent in December!
What has occurred in human error means the dates are incorrect in May 2024 and December 2024 and it got us thinking about the things we might miss as a result of timing. We hope when the time comes, you won’t miss choir practise or Christmas celebrations from our human error in the 2024 calendar but thought we’d use it as an opportunity to raise awareness of what we will miss due to climate change.
We can all do our own bit to help reduce the impact of climate change,
will you pledge to make a small change this year to help?
