THE first phase of restoration works to improve habitats and restore natural river processes at a Kendal beck have been completed.

South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT) undertook the works at Lambrigg Beck, near Kendal, after landowners recognised a number of issues.

SCRT identified a straightened channel, revetted with artificial bank protection and embanked in several places, which, according to the trust, interrupts natural processes and can negatively affect habitat and the connection to floodplains.

The project is one of many restoring natural river processes, whilst creating vital habitat for wildlife, as part of the Cumbria River Restoration Strategy, funded by the Environment Agency.

The 85-metre stone revetment has now been removed and timber refuges have been installed across the beck to improve flow diversity and provide shelter to migrating fish.

The Westmorland Gazette: AFTER: Post revetment removal with silt control

Further down the beck an embankment has been removed to reconnect the beck to its floodplain and relic channel in high flows, meaning that during high flows water can disperse across the area of land adjacent and hold water, allowing it to drain away slowly.

The Westmorland Gazette: WORKS: Example timber refuge for fish at Lambrigg beck

The landowners also identified a small in-field pond for restoration.

“It was great to have the SCRT team working here,” they said,

“They are passionate and knowledgeable about what they are doing and were careful to keep us informed and involved at all stages.”

Olly Southgate, Cumbria and Lancashire river restoration manager at the Environment Agency said: “This project, delivered in partnership between South Cumbria Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency and Natural England, safeguards our protected areas, boosts local biodiversity and improves the resilience of catchments to climate change.

“Restoring our rivers, reconnecting flood plains and other habitats to create climate-resilient habitats for wildlife, reducing flood risk, improving water quality and access to greenspace for people, this project delivers it all and is yet another fantastic win for the environment.

“We look forward to this project’s final completion in 2022 and the benefits this will bring to people and wildlife.”

The final phase of the project, which will be delivered next year, will modify an upstream weir that is affecting fish migration.

SCRT projects and technical manager, Mike West, said: “The Lake District is full of opportunities

for river restoration such as this, and we look forward to many more similar success stories in

future.”