Hopes river scheme will reduce flood risk
Stephen McGinnA funding boost will be used to help explore a river and develop solutions to reduce risk of flooding, a conservation charity said.
Eden Rivers Trust (ERT) was awarded £218,685 for its Reconnecting and Reviving the Caldew scheme.
The trust said it will collaborate with farmers in Upper Caldew and local residents to learn more about the river.
ERT marketing and communications manager Sam Mason said it could help make the river "more resilient" to climate change and reduce potential flood risk, by slowing the flow of the water.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund cash will go towards the first phase, which is expected to last 18 months.
Mason said lack of funding in the past meant the area had not been explored enough.
"It's going to be really exciting to build up that shared knowledge and build up some really good nature-based solution projects and farmyard water management projects as well.
"That's really exciting, to be working with new people on new projects that are going to benefit the river and our planet."
'Restoring habitats'
The River Caldew flows from upland sheep farms on Skiddaw to dairy and beef farms in its lower reaches, before getting to Carlisle.
The trust warned the wettest part of the area faced growing pressures from more intense rainfall due to changing climate leading to higher risk of flooding and erosion.
"Soil loss, water quality issues and invasive species add to the strain," it added.
"ERT believes that focusing on the upper reaches of the river is key to tackling these challenges; reducing flood risk downstream, protecting food production and restoring habitats for wildlife."
The trust hopes to get more funding by the end of the first phase to deliver the next stages of projects.
ERT Head of Conservation Operations John Rattray said: "Together, we have a real opportunity to deliver regenerative farming, support natural river recovery, and help shape a new business model that champions high quality, local produce with fewer food miles."