Bid for funds to protect River Eden (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Bid for funds to protect River Eden

5:06pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in Farm & country By Scott Kirk, Reporter

A MULTI-MILLION bid has been made to fund a project to protect the River Eden.

The Eden Rivers Trust has drawn up a £2.3 million, five-year plan called Cherish Eden which has four initiatives designed to boost conservation and education about the waterway.

Under the plan, local people will be urged to look after their local river and an apprenticeship scheme for youngsters will be set up.

It will encourage them to learn more about the river and perhaps pursue careers in river conservation or other related subjects.

A new series of walks and cycle rides would also be created in the Eden Valley – potentially with financial spin-offs for businesses in the area.

The application follows the trust’s earlier £1 million, three-year project called Discover Eden and will be considered by the HLF later this month.

“This is a fantastic project which will help people of all ages to make the most of this beautiful river,” said Simon Johnson, Eden Rivers Trust director. “It will enable people to look after and enjoy their own little bit of Eden.”

The new walk and cycle routes associated with the river will be called the ‘Eden Invaders Trail.’ They will create new ways of exploring the countryside and raise awareness about non-native animals and plants threatening local wildlife.

One of the aims is to get people involved in looking after the river by removing invasive plants, surveying wildlife, stopping pollution, protecting river banks and planting trees.

A second scheme is ‘Apprentice Eden’, a partnership between the trust and Newton Rigg College to teach young people about rivers and their importance to man and the environment.