A COMMUNITY group looking to protect and enhance a South Lakeland river is inviting the public to share their thoughts on its rejuvenation.

There is to be a drop-in session at Kendal Town Hall on Saturday morning organised by The Kent Catchment Partnership, a local community group under the umbrella of South Cumbria Rivers Trust.

Members of the partnership believe the River Kent is a jewel in the county and one of the most attractive river systems in the country. They are developing a landscape project to celebrate, protect and enhance the catchment and want to involve the public in their plans.

The Kent is the last stronghold in the United Kingdom, and probably Europe, for the native white-clawed crayfish, which are present throughout the catchment. However, across their European range the crayfish have declined 80 to 90 per cent in the last 10 years.

The rivers in the catchment also support endangered freshwater pearl mussels, European eels and Atlantic Salmon. They have all experienced national and international population declines.

Birds such as wagtails, kingfishers and dippers can also be found on the river, followed by a night shift of bats feeding on productive hatches of insects.

Romola Acland, a member of the Kent Catchment Partnership (KCP), said: "Living as I do so close to one of the rivers of the Kent catchment, volunteering with the KCP offered the opportunity to understand more about the hidden life of the river which forms a backdrop to our lives.

"So much goes on that we’re unaware of most of the time. It’s also made me more alert to all the issues around maintaining its health, and to participate in the monitoring of that health. It’s also just fun messing about on riverbanks with people with similar interests!"

The drop-in event will take place between 9am and 12 noon to which people are invited to bring along old and new photos along with their stories and memories of the River Kent. For more information visit btop.scrt.co.uk

There will be opportunities to find out more about the project, speak to local volunteers and share thoughts.