Fellfoot Forward Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 1 Fellfoot Forward is led by the North Pennines AONB Partnership and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Our Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership includes these partners Project Plan List Programme A Programme B Programme C Conserving Engaging Revealing and Restoring and Training and Connecting A1 Better Becks B1 Uncovering the Past C1 Bringing the Past Alive A2 Species Recovery B2 Farm Futures C2 Stars in the Tarn A3 Wild Connections B3 Citizen Science C3 Slow Trails A4 Monuments at Risk B4 Next Generation C4 Arts Connections A5 Going Underground B5 Fellfoot Welcome C5 Community Grants A6 Community Buildings B6 Trainees 2 Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 Programme A Conserving and Restoring Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 3 A1 Better Becks Project lead partner: Eden Rivers Trust Objective The Fellfoot Forward LPS partners The North Pennines AONB Partnership To utilise Natural Flood Management determined early on that their programme carried out a comprehensive peatland Other partners involved in delivery: (NFM) techniques to reduce flood risk on of works for Better Becks would comprise survey on Croglin Estate, in the highest North Pennines AONB Partnership, downstream communities. To enhance NFM measures, implemented where there reaches of the Croglin catchment, to Woodland Trust, Natural England, Forestry river water quality, riparian habitats and is clear evidence of need; measures which determine the potential for peat restoration Commission, farmers and landowners biodiversity. To share and promote best are easily maintained at low or no cost to reduce erosion, sedimentation and practice in natural flood management across and measures for which there is a clear flooding downstream. Through these local, regional and national networks. benefit not only for flooding reduction scoping surveys, a programme of work was but also for habitats and biodiversity. established which will ensure high impact Threats delivery of NFM measures (listed below). Degraded peatland; poor water With this exacting remit, project Further Slow the Flow applications to the quality; local and regional flooding; development benefitted greatly from a Environment Agency will be made in August degradation of aquatic and riparian strong partnership with experts at the Eden 2019 and will be awarded by January 2020. habitats; loss of aquatic species. Rivers Trust (ERT), and from funding via a These Slow the Flow grants will release Slow the Flow grant from the Environment match funding for the delivery of NFM Opportunities Agency to scope the catchment for the measures on the Gamblesby and Croglin Improved peatland habitat; increased most suitable locations for NFM measures. Becks. If the Slow the Flow application is carbon storage; flood risk management; unsuccessful, funds to deliver this work are enhanced aquatic and riparian habitats; The Glassonby, Gamblesby and Croglin underwritten by Eden Rivers Trust and the Natural Flood conservation of aquatic species; sub catchments were extensively surveyed North Pennines AONB Partnership for year increased understanding of NFM and landowners contacted to determine 1 of the Landscape Partnership Scheme. Management in the and watercourse conservation. measures in these upland becks to reduce downstream flood risk. In the complex The Fellfoot Forward LPS will enable upper reaches of the Development and activity Croglin sub catchment, ERT formed a ERT to extend their initial EA-funded The Fellfoot Forward LPS project area collaboration between landowners, Natural NFM delivery in the Cairn Beck across Eden tributaries will includes several communities and large England, the Woodland Trust, United new catchments in the Fellfoot area, areas of agricultural land designated as Utilities, Cumbria County Council and all of which will decrease flood risk to ‘hold back the water’ being at risk from flooding. Major flooding the North Pennines AONB Partnership to vulnerable communities downstream. events in the area have prompted a regional best determine how to deliver woodland during high rainfall, and national commitment to NFM: reducing creation and management within an Location and timescale flood risk by implementing measures that NFM context, utilising existing and We will deliver NFM interventions in protecting communities help to protect and restore the natural new woodland creation schemes. the Cairn, Gamblesby, Croglin, Raven functions of rivers and their catchments. and Gelt sub-catchments of the River downstream and Eden. Project activity will take place mitigating flood risk from April 2020 until December 2023. 4 Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 5 A1 Better Becks Volunteer and training opportunities Outputs Outcomes Volunteers will be recruited to assist with hedgerow and woodland creation and will learn traditional skills. 24,921m peat grips blocked Flooding risk downstream is reduced as water is held in wetlands Through B4 Next Generation we will 220 hectares blanket bog restored provide training opportunities for and behind leaky dams 6,000m2 wetland created students at Newton Rigg College, Young Water quality is improved as surface run- Farmers, William Howard School, 15 leaky dams installed off is reduced by grip blocking, new and Brampton and members of AFON. restored woodlands, riparian buffer strips, 14 hectares of woodland created NFM schemes will be selected as hedgerows and improved soil management demonstrator sites for other farmers in the 1.6 hectares of new riparian Habitats are improved, area, by working with the audience in B2 buffer strips created Farm Futures as part of farm open days. created and connected 2,300m hedgerows created/restored Some smaller NFM interventions may Land managers have learned new skills also be suitable for practical volunteer or 80 hectares soil management improved in NFM creation and maintenance student involvement working alongside professional contractors. Our B6 Trainees 60 volunteers trained People have volunteered time will also benefit from this experience. and learned new skills Project Costs *Combined total of two grant applications Total project cost National Lottery Heritage Match funding to the Environment Agency’s Slow the Funding requirement Flow fund. These have been submitted (August 2019) and an outcome expected £265,944 £80,000 £68,500 Eden Rivers Trust January 2020. If these applications are unsuccessful, Eden Rivers Trust and North Pennines AONB Partnership £88,544* Environment Agency have agreed to underwrite the costs associated to secure delivery (see Slow the Flow grants LCAP Part 3: A1 Better Becks) £7,200 In-kind ERT staff time £1,700 Volunteer time £20,000 United Utilities grant Previous page picture: Cumrew leaky dams. 6 Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 A1 Better Becks Project risk management Risk Likelihood Impact Action to mitigate Legacy The project will leave a legacy of NFM Slow the Flow external Medium High Work with EA (catchment coordinator) and interventions in the landscape. Some such as funding is not approved ERT to work up best bid possible tree planting and new hedges will increase in value over time and others will come into Partners (ERT and NPAONB) have agreed to underwrite their own with the first high rainfall incident. both Slow the Flow grants to secure project delivery There will be increased understanding Farmers do not wish to engage with NFM Low High Several farmers have already committed to NFM by farmers and landowners of the value measures being installed on their land, as evidenced of NFM work for their farm as well as by letters of support in LCAP Part 3, A1 Better Becks contributing to a reduction in flood risk across their catchment and further Officers will secure further buy-in by landowners downstream. They will have gained the through careful employment of NFM measures skills to monitor the interventions and have which will benefit farm business a closer working relationship with ERT and other partners involved with the monitoring Damage to NFM structures and Medium High All projects to be delivered with fully costed 10-year and maintenance of NFM features. habitats due to extreme weather maintenance plans, signed by the landowner Through engagement with schools and events and/or poor maintenance public events, the wider community will Training to be provided where needed to ensure have an appreciation of what NFM can necessary skills in maintaining structures and habitats achieve and understand the role it plays in protecting communities downstream. Funding secured where possible, for example through Countryside Stewardship, for the ongoing maintenance of woodland creation projects Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 2 7 A2 Species Recovery Project lead partner: RSPB Objective Geltsdale is an important place for research The Curlew Trial Management Plan is To deliver a programme of targeted species into upland habitat management and a flagship RSPB programme, trialling Other partners involved in delivery: recovery for curlew, black grouse, ring ouzel reversing the declines of threatened