Eden Rivers Trust awarded £2.6m to break down the barriers to Eden’s rivers and natural heritage

Today, Cumbrian river conservation charity, Eden Rivers Trust has received a grant of £2 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of their exciting heritage partnership project, Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges.

Added to money raised by the project’s partners, that will see a total of £2.6 million spent on people and the environment in the Eden over the next four years.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges will remove the barriers that prevent people and wildlife from accessing the natural heritage of East Cumbria and ‘build the bridges’ needed so that they enjoy and thrive in, on and beside Eden’s rivers.

This will include improvements to walks and trails, coupled with better information plus opportunities for all ages and abilities to get closer to nature, so that more people can explore, enjoy and care for Eden’s rivers. Another major part of the project involves community-led practical conservation projects at eight ‘doorstep’ sites that are within easy reach of urban areas along the length of the river Eden – creating sustainable, healthy, thriving natural spaces.

Whilst developing the project, people who faced the greatest barriers to accessing nature told us that having safe, accessible places to access nature on their doorstep was vital. Here’s a bit more about how one of these sites will be developed as part of Access to Eden:

Loving Engine Lonning

In Carlisle, Eden Rivers Trust spent time with the community surrounding the Engine Lonning green space to find out how the space could be improved to encourage more people to use it. As a result, over the next two years in a project led by Cumberland Council, a wheel-friendly path will be laid, the environment improved by clearing paths, removing invasive non-native species and local people will discover the railway and roman history of the site through new signs inspired by the community and a programme of community events.

Nurturing nature in Penrith

In Penrith, local people will have two new places on their doorstep; Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve and Eden Rivers Trust’s Community Tree Nursery. Work started last year on these accessible spaces where communities are taking the lead in shaping their development; volunteering to dig, build and plant features and enjoying learning about how to grow trees, look after nature and simply enjoy the view. Both sites will have a packed programme of events and opportunities for local people to volunteer over the next four years.

Elizabeth Radford, Chief Executive, Eden Rivers Trust, said: “All the partners in this project love the Eden Valley and the special natural places found here, from the river’s source in Mallerstang to the sea beyond Carlisle. This grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will allow more people to experience the magic of those places, many of whom currently find themselves excluded. Through sharing these places, we hope more people from different communities will be encouraged to join in with caring for the Eden; our countryside and our wonderful river.”

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support Eden Rivers Trust with this project that will encourage a thriving, wildlife-rich river landscape and connect local people with the natural heritage of East Cumbria. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, it is great to know that this rich heritage will be safeguarded for years to come, and communities will be able to explore the wonderful nature right on their doorstep.”

Leading a river revival

The 14-strong partnership, led by Eden Rivers Trust, brings together local councils, environmental organisations, river user and transport groups, community groups and accessibility campaigners whose knowledge and expertise will unlock rivers and nature for more people than ever before, providing opportunities to connect them to the wonder that is the natural world found in the wider Eden valley.

Elizabeth added: “The project partners have raised £600,000 of match funding from over 20 sources to contribute to this project: including both Cumbrian Councils, charitable trusts and some generous private donors – already a huge community effort which will be recognised throughout the project alongside the incredible contribution from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.”

Director of the North Pennines National Landscape, Chris Woodley-Stewart, said: “We are delighted that this project is being supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. There’s been great leadership on it from Eden Rivers Trust and it’s a good example of the benefits of collaboration and partnership working. We know it will allow more people to get responsible access to the wonderful nature of the River Eden landscape, including part of the North Pennines.”

Find out more about the project and partners on the Eden Rivers Trust website

Ends

Notes to Editors:
Photos:
1. The Eden Community Tree nursery’s new accessible path is tested by a member of a local user group © Eden Rivers Trust
2. Tree nursery volunteers planting the first tree whips © Eden Rivers Trust
3. Family guided nature walk at Engine Lonning Discovery Day in June 2023 © Stuart Walker Photography
4. Engine Lonning green space is situated next to the River Eden and Hadrian’s Wall © Eden Rivers Trust

Contacts for further information:
Sam Mason, Marketing and Communications Manager: sam.mason@edenrt.org 01768 866788 / 07834 555179 (Mon-Thurs)
Elizabeth Radford, CEO elizabeth.radford@edenrt.org 01768 866788.

About Access to Eden: breaking barriers and building bridges

Access to Eden will break down the physical, social and cultural barriers that prevent people from accessing the natural heritage of Eden and build the bridges needed to give them the confidence to enjoy our blue and green spaces. We will remove barriers for Eden’s special wildlife, connect habitats and promote nature recovery. Working together, our partnership will break barriers and build bridges for people AND nature in the Eden.

The project will run between 2024 and 2028 and is led by Eden Rivers Trust. The total project is worth £2.6m with £2million awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Other donors include Ernest Cook Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Westmorland and Furness Council, Defra Access Fund, Network Rail, Cumberland Council, Cumberland Community Panels, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, North Pennines National Landscape, Yorkshire Dales National Park, British canoeing, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, landowners at Wallacefield, Ian Gregg and Penrith Town Council.

Project partners:
Access the Dales
Carlisle Waverley Viaduct Trust
Cumberland Council
Cumbria Canoeists the delivery partner of the British Canoeing Cumbria Regional Development Team
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Eden Rivers Trust
NHS North Cumbria Integrated Care
North Pennines National Landscape
Northern Viaduct Trust
Penrith and Eden Refugee Network
Penrith Town Council
Westmorland and Furness Council
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Eden Rivers Trust – the Cumbrian conservation charity standing up for Eden’s rivers; changing perceptions, enhancing and protecting the river environment so that people and nature can thrive. We’re working in partnership with organisations and local communities, changing the conversation and inspiring and empowering others to breathe new life into our rivers. Together, we’re finding better ways to ensure the Eden can support a brighter future for all. We’re rethinking Eden’s rivers for good. The River Eden is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is classed by Europe as a Special Area of Conservation. For more information and to get involved, visit www.edenriverstrust.org.uk or call 01768 866788.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
heritage fund.org.uk
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