Importance of Rivers
Rivers support life, they provide homes for some of the UK’s most endangered and celebrated wildlife such as water voles, otters and kingfishers. They supply drinking water, control flooding and are a much valued recreation source; from fishing to wild swimming. However, no river in England is classed as healthy, most suffer from over abstraction, pollution and biodiversity loss. Read the latest State of Our Rivers report.
About Us
East Mercia Rivers Trust (EMRT) is an independent charity formed in October 2022 following the merger of Welland Rivers Trust and Lincolnshire Rivers Trust (established 2011 and 2013 respectively).
The Kingdom of Mercia (from the Old English Mierce or Myrce, ‘People of the Marches or Boundaries’) was a state in the Midlands from the 6th century to the 10th century. Whilst its origins and history are obscure, at one time it became the most powerful of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms with its boundaries expanding to occupy much of the south of England from the Humber.
During the ‘Golden Age of Mercia’ the state included Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland; the five counties where East Mercia Rivers Trust operates. Advocating the catchment-based approach EMRT focuses on the rivers Welland and Witham catchments, which encompasses over 120 watercourses and covers a 4680 km2 area.
Our Mission: Revitilising rivers for nature and communities.
Our Values
Our Aims
Resilient Rivers Programme aims to create and protect healthy, clean, and resilient watercourses by,
- restoring and enhancing habitats,
- increasing natural water storage,
- Improving water quality,
- controlling and removing invasive species.
Rivers for Life Programme aims to inspire local communities, landowners, businesses, and recreational river-users to act for rivers by,
- building data and evidence,
- delivering educational activities and advisory services,
- improving access to nature and
- raising awareness.
Our Latest News
- The Mutual Benefits Of Working With Nature To Manage Floodwater
This summer Welland Project Manager Sam Valman travelled to Scotland to help and learn from an international team of researchers monitor a novel flood management scheme. Collaboration is key to understanding different methods of river restoration or enhancement and bringing… Read More »The Mutual Benefits Of Working With Nature To Manage Floodwater - Our Horncastle Riverscape Walk Leaflet is Now Available!Bringing rivers back to life for nature and communities Discover Horncastle’s Hidden Gems Embark on a scenic 1.6-mile (2.6km) walk through the historic market town of Horncastle, exploring its riverscapes, wildlife and heritage. With 15 stopping points, this circular route… Read More »Our Horncastle Riverscape Walk Leaflet is Now Available!
- Kibworth & Smeeton Nature Project (KSNP) CompletesFollowing delays due to Storm Babet, the habitat works for Kibworth and Smeeton Nature Project, restoring a section of the Langton Brook in the Upper Welland, near Smeeton Westerby (Leicestershire) have finally been completed. Funded by the Environment Agency, Harborough… Read More »Kibworth & Smeeton Nature Project (KSNP) Completes
