https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Ruth+Needham 2026-04-20T20:33:51Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.39.7 https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Case_study:Restoring_the_River_Mease_Catchment&diff=51826 2026-02-25T15:58:02Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Project background<br /> |Project started=2013-09-02<br /> |Works started=2019-06-03<br /> |Total cost category=100 - 500 k€<br /> |Funding sources=Envrionement Agency, Local Planning Authorities, Natural England<br /> |Supplementary funding information=Works have taken place at many locations across the Mease catchment. Capital works have taken place at several sites along the main river and some of the key tributaries. All of the main deliver sites have had monitoring along side, to evidence the work completed, including photography and invertebrate monitoring. Engagement has taken place with farmers and landowners, and stakeholder across the entire catchment, seeking to address land use and land management opportunities that trap pollution and naturalise flows, downstream in the main river.<br /> }}<br /> {{Location<br /> |Location=52.70332, -1.52548<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study subcatchment<br /> |Subcatchment=Gilwiskaw Brook from Source to River Mease<br /> }}<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> {{Project overview<br /> |Status=In progress<br /> |Project web site url=rivermease.co.uk<br /> |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality<br /> |Country=England<br /> |Main contact forename=Ruth<br /> |Main contact surname=Needham<br /> |Main contact id=Ruth_Needham<br /> |Contact organisation=Trent Rivers Trust<br /> |Contact organisation url=www.trentriverstrust.org/<br /> |Partner organisations=Catchment Sensitive Farming, Derbyshire County Council, Environment Agency, Leicestershire County Council, Lichfield District Council, Natural England, North West Leciestershire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Staffordshire County Council<br /> |Multi-site=No<br /> |Project picture=Mease Meadows<br /> |Picture description=Restored reach of River Mease, showing re-profiled riverbank, vegetated buffer and in-channel vegetation.<br /> |Project summary=The Mease catchment project demonstrates how coordinated, collaborative action can improve river health, support nature recovery, and sustain food production.<br /> <br /> The catchment is dominated by high quality agricultural land and supports an active, productive farming community. Ashby and Measham are the main urban centres. In 1998, the river was designated as an SSSI for its small but nationally important, populations of Spined Loach Cobitis taenia and Bullhead Cottus gobio.<br /> <br /> Like many lowland UK rivers, the Mease had long suffered from habitat loss, flooding, and pollution, particularly phosphate, at a time when food production was the priority. Few people, including the farmers, were aware of the Mease, its fish, or the pressures on its wildlife.<br /> <br /> The SSSI/SAC designation in 2005 opened up funding that supported land use change and management practices that value nature. From the early 2000s, work began to bring farmers and stakeholders together. The early years were challenging; the protected status was unpopular with many farmers. The partnership strengthened significantly after TRT, and the EA came on board in 2013. <br /> <br /> Since then, landowners have been closely engaged to identify solutions that balance food production with habitat creation and water retention on farmland.<br /> <br /> The partnership has delivered substantial capital works and extensive engagement. Together we are working towards a genuinely restored catchment where food production is balanced with space for nature. We have demonstrated that rivers can be restored and connected to their floodplain within a productive farmed landscape.<br /> <br /> Objectives of the Partnership<br /> 1. Restore the catchment by balancing land use for food production, nature recovery and making space for water.<br /> 2. Deliver nature based capital works across the River Mease and its tributaries.<br /> 3. Promote good practice and interventions that trap and store pollution and slow flood flows.<br /> 4. Restore the River Mease SSSI to good ecological health.<br /> |Monitoring surveys and results=Monitoring and evaluation is fundamental to all the activities, to help evaluate impact as well as inform future work. The evidence collected includes fixed point photography, invertebrate and species surveys, water quality monitoring, recording of landowner engagement and volunteer activity.<br /> <br /> A programme of fixed point photography has been carried out across key restoration sites, capturing seasonal changes and fluctuations in water levels. These images clearly show how restored river habitats establish and evolve over time, and they provide valuable material to share with farmers and other stakeholders.<br /> <br /> Surveys for freshwater aquatic invertebrates at key sites have been able to show how the river is starting to recover, once river restoration has been completed. <br /> <br /> Phosphate monitoring at interventions sites and on all the major tributaries has helped to evaluate schemes, as well as inform the future targeting of work, including the nutrient neutrality framework. <br /> <br /> Engagement has been a key focus. We maintain an engagement tracker which helps to strengthen our understanding of landowner and communities’ interests in the methods used. <br /> <br /> Specific species surveys have been undertaken including White clawed-crayfish, fish and INNS. <br /> <br /> The evidence is assessed on a regular basis to report the impact, influence future work and raise awareness of achievements.<br /> |Lessons learn=Engagement and collaboration is key. We are restoring and rivers, and finding places to protect nature within a farmed landscape. The concept is unfamiliar to many landowners and stakeholders. Naturally functioning rivers that are connected to their floodplain create habitats, store water and trap pollution. Yet they take up space, especially when in flood. Farmers and landowners in the Mease historically would farm right up to the bank top, and are reluctant to lose productive land. It can take several years for a farmer to agree to a scheme. It need to blend into their wider farmer management, utilising buffers, margins and field corners. It might include areas that lie wet. Schemes are best secured with a grant such as a Countryside Stewardship Scheme or Sustainable Farm Incentive. <br /> <br /> Allow time to talk to the farmer / landowner. <br /> Look at the site from the landowners eyes, understand where they are able to amend their management, and what grant revenue might off set any production losses. <br /> Survey for ecology, archaeology and services, they all can have a big influence on how a scheme can take shape. <br /> Present plans to the farmer at an early stage. <br /> Look for wider benefits in addition to river restoration, such as trapping pollution or flood storage. <br /> Engage with the regulatory bodies early, such as the Lead Local Flood Authority or the Environment Agency. It can take time to get the permissions in place. <br /> The best time for capital works is June to September, outside of bird breeding season, the fish spawning season and when river levels and flood risk is low. <br /> Talk to a contractor early, get in indication of price. Make sure your funder is aware of the constraints and time line. Allow some extra budget for contingency. Usually something doesn't go quite to plan!<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> <br /> {{Image gallery}}<br /> {{Image gallery end}}<br /> {{Toggle button}}<br /> {{Toggle content start}}<br /> <br /> {{Site}}<br /> <br /> {{Motivations}}<br /> {{Measures}}<br /> {{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Biological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Other responses header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents end}}<br /> {{Additional Documents}}<br /> {{Additional Documents end}}<br /> {{Additional links and references header}}<br /> {{Additional links and references footer}}<br /> {{Supplementary Information}}<br /> {{Toggle content end}}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Subcatchment:Gilwiskaw_Brook_from_Source_to_River_Mease&diff=51823 2026-02-25T15:51:48Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Catchment and subcatchment<br /> |River basin district=Humber<br /> |Rvr basin=Tame Anker and Mease<br /> |River name=River Mease from Gilwiskaw Bk to Hooborough Brook<br /> |Area category=10 - 100 km²<br /> |Area exact=170km2<br /> |Maximum altitude category=100 - 200 m<br /> |Max altitude exact=185<br /> |Subcatchment dominant geology=Calcareous<br /> |Ecoregion=Great Britain<br /> |Subcatchment dominant land cover=Arable and Horticulture<br /> |Subcatchment Location=52.71803, -1.4699<br /> }}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Subcatchment:Gilwiskaw_Brook_from_Source_to_River_Mease&diff=51794 2026-02-20T18:56:59Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Catchment and subcatchment<br /> |River basin district=Humber<br /> |Rvr basin=Tame Anker and Mease<br /> |River name=Gilwiskaw Brook from Source to River Mease<br /> |Area category=10 - 100 km²<br /> |Area exact=170km2<br /> |Maximum altitude category=100 - 200 m<br /> |Max altitude exact=185<br /> |Subcatchment dominant geology=Calcareous<br /> |Ecoregion=Great Britain<br /> |Subcatchment dominant land cover=Arable and Horticulture<br /> |Waterbody ID=GB104028046590<br /> |Subcatchment Location=52.71803, -1.4699<br /> }}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=File:R_Mease_catchment.pdf&diff=51793 2026-02-20T18:56:49Z

<p>Ruth Needham: Graphic illustration of the Mease catchment, showing the key rivers, transport corridors and urban areas.</p> <hr /> <div>Graphic illustration of the Mease catchment, showing the key rivers, transport corridors and urban areas.</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Case_study:Restoring_the_River_Mease_Catchment&diff=51792 2026-02-20T18:49:19Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Case study subcatchment<br /> |Subcatchment=Gilwiskaw Brook from Source to River Mease<br /> }}<br /> {{Project overview<br /> |Status=In progress<br /> |Project web site url=rivermease.co.uk<br /> |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality<br /> |Country=England<br /> |Main contact forename=Ruth<br /> |Main contact surname=Needham<br /> |Main contact id=Ruth_Needham<br /> |Contact organisation=Trent Rivers Trust<br /> |Contact organisation url=www.trentriverstrust.org/<br /> |Partner organisations=Catchment Sensitive Farming, Derbyshire County Council, Environment Agency, Leicestershire County Council, Lichfield District Council, Natural England, North West Leciestershire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Staffordshire County Council<br /> |Multi-site=No<br /> |Project picture=Mease Meadows<br /> |Picture description=Restored reach of River Mease, showing re-profiled riverbank, vegetated buffer and in-channel vegetation.<br /> |Project summary=The Mease catchment project demonstrates how coordinated, collaborative action can improve river health, support nature recovery, and sustain food production.<br /> <br /> The catchment is dominated by high quality agricultural land and supports an active, productive farming community. Ashby and Measham are the main urban centres. In 1998, the river was designated as an SSSI for its small but nationally important, populations of Spined Loach Cobitis taenia and Bullhead Cottus gobio.<br /> <br /> Like many lowland UK rivers, the Mease had long suffered from habitat loss, flooding, and pollution, particularly phosphate, at a time when food production was the priority. Few people, including the farmers, were aware of the Mease, its fish, or the pressures on its wildlife.<br /> <br /> The SSSI/SAC designation in 2005 opened up funding that supported land use change and management practices that value nature. From the early 2000s, work began to bring farmers and stakeholders together. The early years were challenging; the protected status was unpopular with many farmers. The partnership strengthened significantly after TRT, and the EA came on board in 2013. <br /> <br /> Since then, landowners have been closely engaged to identify solutions that balance food production with habitat creation and water retention on farmland.<br /> <br /> The partnership has delivered substantial capital works and extensive engagement. Together we are working towards a genuinely restored catchment where food production is balanced with space for nature. We have demonstrated that rivers can be restored and connected to their floodplain within a productive farmed landscape.<br /> <br /> Objectives of the Partnership<br /> 1. Restore the catchment by balancing land use for food production, nature recovery and making space for water.<br /> 2. Deliver nature based capital works across the River Mease and its tributaries.<br /> 3. Promote good practice and interventions that trap and store pollution and slow flood flows.<br /> 4. Restore the River Mease SSSI to good ecological health.<br /> |Monitoring surveys and results=Monitoring and evaluation is fundamental to all the activities, to help evaluate impact as well as inform future work. The evidence collected includes fixed point photography, invertebrate and species surveys, water quality monitoring, recording of landowner engagement and volunteer activity.<br /> <br /> A programme of fixed point photography has been carried out across key restoration sites, capturing seasonal changes and fluctuations in water levels. These images clearly show how restored river habitats establish and evolve over time, and they provide valuable material to share with farmers and other stakeholders.<br /> <br /> Surveys for freshwater aquatic invertebrates at key sites have been able to show how the river is starting to recover, once river restoration has been completed. <br /> <br /> Phosphate monitoring at interventions sites and on all the major tributaries has helped to evaluate schemes, as well as inform the future targeting of work, including the nutrient neutrality framework. <br /> <br /> Engagement has been a key focus. We maintain an engagement tracker which helps to strengthen our understanding of landowner and communities’ interests in the methods used. <br /> <br /> Specific species surveys have been undertaken including White clawed-crayfish, fish and INNS. <br /> <br /> The evidence is assessed on a regular basis to report the impact, influence future work and raise awareness of achievements.<br /> |Lessons learn=Engagement and collaboration is key. We are restoring and rivers, and finding places to protect nature within a farmed landscape. The concept is unfamiliar to many landowners and stakeholders. Naturally functioning rivers that are connected to their floodplain create habitats, store water and trap pollution. Yet they take up space, especially when in flood. Farmers and landowners in the Mease historically would farm right up to the bank top, and are reluctant to lose productive land. It can take several years for a farmer to agree to a scheme. It need to blend into their wider farmer management, utilising buffers, margins and field corners. It might include areas that lie wet. Schemes are best secured with a grant such as a Countryside Stewardship Scheme or Sustainable Farm Incentive. <br /> <br /> Allow time to talk to the farmer / landowner. <br /> Look at the site from the landowners eyes, understand where they are able to amend their management, and what grant revenue might off set any production losses. <br /> Survey for ecology, archaeology and services, they all can have a big influence on how a scheme can take shape. <br /> Present plans to the farmer at an early stage. <br /> Look for wider benefits in addition to river restoration, such as trapping pollution or flood storage. <br /> Engage with the regulatory bodies early, such as the Lead Local Flood Authority or the Environment Agency. It can take time to get the permissions in place. <br /> The best time for capital works is June to September, outside of bird breeding season, the fish spawning season and when river levels and flood risk is low. <br /> Talk to a contractor early, get in indication of price. Make sure your funder is aware of the constraints and time line. Allow some extra budget for contingency. Usually something doesn't go quite to plan!<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> {{Location<br /> |Location=52.70332, -1.52548<br /> }}<br /> <br /> {{Image gallery}}<br /> {{Image gallery end}}<br /> {{Toggle button}}<br /> {{Toggle content start}}<br /> <br /> {{Site}}<br /> {{Project background}}<br /> {{Motivations}}<br /> {{Measures}}<br /> {{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Biological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Other responses header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents end}}<br /> {{Additional Documents}}<br /> {{Additional Documents end}}<br /> {{Additional links and references header}}<br /> {{Additional links and references footer}}<br /> {{Supplementary Information}}<br /> {{Toggle content end}}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Case_study:Restoring_the_River_Mease_Catchment&diff=51791 2026-02-20T18:47:40Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Project overview<br /> |Status=In progress<br /> |Project web site url=rivermease.co.uk<br /> |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality<br /> |Country=England<br /> |Main contact forename=Ruth<br /> |Main contact surname=Needham<br /> |Main contact id=Ruth_Needham<br /> |Contact organisation=Trent Rivers Trust<br /> |Contact organisation url=www.trentriverstrust.org/<br /> |Partner organisations=Catchment Sensitive Farming, Derbyshire County Council, Environment Agency, Leicestershire County Council, Lichfield District Council, Natural England, North West Leciestershire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Staffordshire County Council<br /> |Multi-site=No<br /> |Project picture=Mease Meadows<br /> |Picture description=Restored reach of River Mease, showing re-profiled riverbank, vegetated buffer and in-channel vegetation.<br /> |Project summary=The Mease catchment project demonstrates how coordinated, collaborative action can improve river health, support nature recovery, and sustain food production.<br /> <br /> The catchment is dominated by high quality agricultural land and supports an active, productive farming community. Ashby and Measham are the main urban centres. In 1998, the river was designated as an SSSI for its small but nationally important, populations of Spined Loach Cobitis taenia and Bullhead Cottus gobio.<br /> <br /> Like many lowland UK rivers, the Mease had long suffered from habitat loss, flooding, and pollution, particularly phosphate, at a time when food production was the priority. Few people, including the farmers, were aware of the Mease, its fish, or the pressures on its wildlife.<br /> <br /> The SSSI/SAC designation in 2005 opened up funding that supported land use change and management practices that value nature. From the early 2000s, work began to bring farmers and stakeholders together. The early years were challenging; the protected status was unpopular with many farmers. The partnership strengthened significantly after TRT, and the EA came on board in 2013. <br /> <br /> Since then, landowners have been closely engaged to identify solutions that balance food production with habitat creation and water retention on farmland.<br /> <br /> The partnership has delivered substantial capital works and extensive engagement. Together we are working towards a genuinely restored catchment where food production is balanced with space for nature. We have demonstrated that rivers can be restored and connected to their floodplain within a productive farmed landscape.<br /> <br /> Objectives of the Partnership<br /> 1. Restore the catchment by balancing land use for food production, nature recovery and making space for water.<br /> 2. Deliver nature based capital works across the River Mease and its tributaries.<br /> 3. Promote good practice and interventions that trap and store pollution and slow flood flows.<br /> 4. Restore the River Mease SSSI to good ecological health.<br /> |Monitoring surveys and results=Monitoring and evaluation is fundamental to all the activities, to help evaluate impact as well as inform future work. The evidence collected includes fixed point photography, invertebrate and species surveys, water quality monitoring, recording of landowner engagement and volunteer activity.<br /> <br /> A programme of fixed point photography has been carried out across key restoration sites, capturing seasonal changes and fluctuations in water levels. These images clearly show how restored river habitats establish and evolve over time, and they provide valuable material to share with farmers and other stakeholders.<br /> <br /> Surveys for freshwater aquatic invertebrates at key sites have been able to show how the river is starting to recover, once river restoration has been completed. <br /> <br /> Phosphate monitoring at interventions sites and on all the major tributaries has helped to evaluate schemes, as well as inform the future targeting of work, including the nutrient neutrality framework. <br /> <br /> Engagement has been a key focus. We maintain an engagement tracker which helps to strengthen our understanding of landowner and communities’ interests in the methods used. <br /> <br /> Specific species surveys have been undertaken including White clawed-crayfish, fish and INNS. <br /> <br /> The evidence is assessed on a regular basis to report the impact, influence future work and raise awareness of achievements.<br /> |Lessons learn=Engagement and collaboration is key. We are restoring and rivers, and finding places to protect nature within a farmed landscape. The concept is unfamiliar to many landowners and stakeholders. Naturally functioning rivers that are connected to their floodplain create habitats, store water and trap pollution. Yet they take up space, especially when in flood. Farmers and landowners in the Mease historically would farm right up to the bank top, and are reluctant to lose productive land. It can take several years for a farmer to agree to a scheme. It need to blend into their wider farmer management, utilising buffers, margins and field corners. It might include areas that lie wet. Schemes are best secured with a grant such as a Countryside Stewardship Scheme or Sustainable Farm Incentive. <br /> <br /> Allow time to talk to the farmer / landowner. <br /> Look at the site from the landowners eyes, understand where they are able to amend their management, and what grant revenue might off set any production losses. <br /> Survey for ecology, archaeology and services, they all can have a big influence on how a scheme can take shape. <br /> Present plans to the farmer at an early stage. <br /> Look for wider benefits in addition to river restoration, such as trapping pollution or flood storage. <br /> Engage with the regulatory bodies early, such as the Lead Local Flood Authority or the Environment Agency. It can take time to get the permissions in place. <br /> The best time for capital works is June to September, outside of bird breeding season, the fish spawning season and when river levels and flood risk is low. <br /> Talk to a contractor early, get in indication of price. Make sure your funder is aware of the constraints and time line. Allow some extra budget for contingency. Usually something doesn't go quite to plan!<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> {{Location<br /> |Location=52.70332, -1.52548<br /> }}<br /> <br /> {{Image gallery}}<br /> {{Image gallery end}}<br /> {{Toggle button}}<br /> {{Toggle content start}}<br /> {{Case study subcatchment}}<br /> {{Site}}<br /> {{Project background}}<br /> {{Motivations}}<br /> {{Measures}}<br /> {{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Biological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Other responses header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents end}}<br /> {{Additional Documents}}<br /> {{Additional Documents end}}<br /> {{Additional links and references header}}<br /> {{Additional links and references footer}}<br /> {{Supplementary Information}}<br /> {{Toggle content end}}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=File:Mease_meadows.jpg&diff=51790 2026-02-20T18:28:32Z

<p>Ruth Needham: Restored reach of River Mease, showing re-profiled riverbank, vegetated buffer and in-channel vegetation.</p> <hr /> <div>Restored reach of River Mease, showing re-profiled riverbank, vegetated buffer and in-channel vegetation.</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Case_study:Restoring_the_River_Mease_Catchment&diff=51789 2026-02-20T18:25:56Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Project overview<br /> |Status=In progress<br /> |Project web site url=rivermease.co.uk<br /> |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality<br /> |Country=England<br /> |Main contact forename=Ruth<br /> |Main contact surname=Needham<br /> |Main contact id=Ruth_Needham<br /> |Contact organisation=Trent Rivers Trust<br /> |Contact organisation url=www.trentriverstrust.org/<br /> |Partner organisations=Environment Agency, Natural England, Catchment Sensitive Farming, North West Leciestershire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Lichfield District Council, Leicestershire County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council<br /> |Multi-site=No<br /> |Project summary=The Mease catchment project demonstrates how coordinated, collaborative action can improve river health, support nature recovery, and sustain food production.<br /> <br /> The catchment is dominated by high quality agricultural land and supports an active, productive farming community. Ashby and Measham are the main urban centres. In 1998, the river was designated as an SSSI for its small but nationally important, populations of Spined Loach Cobitis taenia and Bullhead Cottus gobio.<br /> <br /> Like many lowland UK rivers, the Mease had long suffered from habitat loss, flooding, and pollution, particularly phosphate, at a time when food production was the priority. Few people, including the farmers, were aware of the Mease, its fish, or the pressures on its wildlife.<br /> <br /> The SSSI/SAC designation in 2005 opened up funding that supported land use change and management practices that value nature. From the early 2000s, work began to bring farmers and stakeholders together. The early years were challenging; the protected status was unpopular with many farmers. The partnership strengthened significantly after TRT, and the EA came on board in 2013. <br /> <br /> Since then, landowners have been closely engaged to identify solutions that balance food production with habitat creation and water retention on farmland.<br /> <br /> The partnership has delivered substantial capital works and extensive engagement. Together we are working towards a genuinely restored catchment where food production is balanced with space for nature. We have demonstrated that rivers can be restored and connected to their floodplain within a productive farmed landscape.<br /> <br /> Objectives of the Partnership<br /> 1. Restore the catchment by balancing land use for food production, nature recovery and making space for water.<br /> 2. Deliver nature based capital works across the River Mease and its tributaries.<br /> 3. Promote good practice and interventions that trap and store pollution and slow flood flows.<br /> 4. Restore the River Mease SSSI to good ecological health.<br /> |Monitoring surveys and results=Monitoring and evaluation is fundamental to all the activities, to help evaluate impact as well as inform future work. The evidence collected includes fixed point photography, invertebrate and species surveys, water quality monitoring, recording of landowner engagement and volunteer activity.<br /> <br /> A programme of fixed point photography has been carried out across key restoration sites, capturing seasonal changes and fluctuations in water levels. These images clearly show how restored river habitats establish and evolve over time, and they provide valuable material to share with farmers and other stakeholders.<br /> <br /> Surveys for freshwater aquatic invertebrates at key sites have been able to show how the river is starting to recover, once river restoration has been completed. <br /> <br /> Phosphate monitoring at interventions sites and on all the major tributaries has helped to evaluate schemes, as well as inform the future targeting of work, including the nutrient neutrality framework. <br /> <br /> Engagement has been a key focus. We maintain an engagement tracker which helps to strengthen our understanding of landowner and communities’ interests in the methods used. <br /> <br /> Specific species surveys have been undertaken including White clawed-crayfish, fish and INNS. <br /> <br /> The evidence is assessed on a regular basis to report the impact, influence future work and raise awareness of achievements.<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> {{Location<br /> |Location=52.70332, -1.52548<br /> }}<br /> <br /> {{Image gallery}}<br /> {{Image gallery end}}<br /> {{Toggle button}}<br /> {{Toggle content start}}<br /> {{Case study subcatchment}}<br /> {{Site}}<br /> {{Project background}}<br /> {{Motivations}}<br /> {{Measures}}<br /> {{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Biological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Other responses header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents end}}<br /> {{Additional Documents}}<br /> {{Additional Documents end}}<br /> {{Additional links and references header}}<br /> {{Additional links and references footer}}<br /> {{Supplementary Information}}<br /> {{Toggle content end}}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Case_study:Restoring_the_River_Mease_Catchment&diff=51788 2026-02-20T18:21:43Z

<p>Ruth Needham: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Project overview<br /> |Status=In progress<br /> |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality<br /> |Country=England<br /> |Main contact forename=Ruth<br /> |Main contact surname=Needham<br /> |Main contact id=Ruth_Needham<br /> |Contact organisation=Trent Rivers Trust<br /> |Contact organisation url=www.trentriverstrust.org/<br /> |Multi-site=No<br /> |Project summary=The Mease catchment project demonstrates how coordinated, collaborative action can improve river health, support nature recovery, and sustain food production.<br /> <br /> The catchment is dominated by high quality agricultural land and supports an active, productive farming community. Ashby and Measham are the main urban centres. In 1998, the river was designated as an SSSI for its small but nationally important, populations of Spined Loach Cobitis taenia and Bullhead Cottus gobio.<br /> <br /> Like many lowland UK rivers, the Mease had long suffered from habitat loss, flooding, and pollution, particularly phosphate, at a time when food production was the priority. Few people, including the farmers, were aware of the Mease, its fish, or the pressures on its wildlife.<br /> <br /> The SSSI/SAC designation in 2005 opened up funding that supported land use change and management practices that value nature. From the early 2000s, work began to bring farmers and stakeholders together. The early years were challenging; the protected status was unpopular with many farmers. The partnership strengthened significantly after TRT, and the EA came on board in 2013. <br /> <br /> Since then, landowners have been closely engaged to identify solutions that balance food production with habitat creation and water retention on farmland.<br /> <br /> The partnership has delivered substantial capital works and extensive engagement. Together we are working towards a genuinely restored catchment where food production is balanced with space for nature. We have demonstrated that rivers can be restored and connected to their floodplain within a productive farmed landscape.<br /> <br /> Objectives of the Partnership<br /> 1. Restore the catchment by balancing land use for food production, nature recovery and making space for water.<br /> 2. Deliver nature based capital works across the River Mease and its tributaries.<br /> 3. Promote good practice and interventions that trap and store pollution and slow flood flows.<br /> 4. Restore the River Mease SSSI to good ecological health.<br /> |Monitoring surveys and results=Monitoring and evaluation is fundamental to all the activities, to help evaluate impact as well as inform future work. The evidence collected includes fixed point photography, invertebrate and species surveys, water quality monitoring, recording of landowner engagement and volunteer activity.<br /> <br /> A programme of fixed point photography has been carried out across key restoration sites, capturing seasonal changes and fluctuations in water levels. These images clearly show how restored river habitats establish and evolve over time, and they provide valuable material to share with farmers and other stakeholders.<br /> <br /> Surveys for freshwater aquatic invertebrates at key sites have been able to show how the river is starting to recover, once river restoration has been completed. <br /> <br /> Phosphate monitoring at interventions sites and on all the major tributaries has helped to evaluate schemes, as well as inform the future targeting of work, including the nutrient neutrality framework. <br /> <br /> Engagement has been a key focus. We maintain an engagement tracker which helps to strengthen our understanding of landowner and communities’ interests in the methods used. <br /> <br /> Specific species surveys have been undertaken including White clawed-crayfish, fish and INNS. <br /> <br /> The evidence is assessed on a regular basis to report the impact, influence future work and raise awareness of achievements.<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> }}<br /> {{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> {{Location<br /> |Location=52.70332, -1.52548<br /> }}<br /> <br /> {{Image gallery}}<br /> {{Image gallery end}}<br /> {{Toggle button}}<br /> {{Toggle content start}}<br /> {{Case study subcatchment}}<br /> {{Site}}<br /> {{Project background}}<br /> {{Motivations}}<br /> {{Measures}}<br /> {{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Biological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Other responses header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents end}}<br /> {{Additional Documents}}<br /> {{Additional Documents end}}<br /> {{Additional links and references header}}<br /> {{Additional links and references footer}}<br /> {{Supplementary Information}}<br /> {{Toggle content end}}</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=File:2022-11-04_MME.jpg&diff=51787 2026-02-20T18:15:33Z

<p>Ruth Needham: Image of a restored reach of the main channel of the River Mease, showing re-profiled banks, vegetated buffer, and in-channel vegetation.</p> <hr /> <div>Image of a restored reach of the main channel of the River Mease, showing re-profiled banks, vegetated buffer, and in-channel vegetation.</div>

Ruth Needham https://restorerivers.eu/wiki/index.php?title=Case_study:Restoring_the_River_Mease_Catchment&diff=51786 2026-02-20T18:07:29Z

<p>Ruth Needham: Created page with &quot;{{Case study status |Approval status=Draft }} {{Location |Location=52.70332, -1.52548 }} {{Project overview |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment |Status=In progress |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality |Country=England |Main contact forename=Ruth |Main contact surname=Needham |Main contact id=Ruth_Needh...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>{{Case study status<br /> |Approval status=Draft<br /> }}<br /> {{Location<br /> |Location=52.70332, -1.52548<br /> }}<br /> {{Project overview<br /> |Project title=Restoring the River Mease Catchment<br /> |Status=In progress<br /> |Themes=Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Urban, Water quality<br /> |Country=England<br /> |Main contact forename=Ruth<br /> |Main contact surname=Needham<br /> |Main contact id=Ruth_Needham<br /> |Contact organisation=Trent Rivers Trust<br /> |Contact organisation url=www.trentriverstrust.org/<br /> |Multi-site=No<br /> }}<br /> {{Image gallery}}<br /> {{Image gallery end}}<br /> {{Toggle button}}<br /> {{Toggle content start}}<br /> {{Case study subcatchment}}<br /> {{Site}}<br /> {{Project background}}<br /> {{Motivations}}<br /> {{Measures}}<br /> {{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Biological quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Other responses header}}<br /> {{End table}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents}}<br /> {{Monitoring documents end}}<br /> {{Additional Documents}}<br /> {{Additional Documents end}}<br /> {{Additional links and references header}}<br /> {{Additional links and references footer}}<br /> {{Supplementary Information}}<br /> {{Toggle content end}}</div>

Ruth Needham