Action for the Annual Report 2019

The Rivers Trust for the Kennet Catchment ARK’s Year 2018-19

ARK joins WWF April at the Houses of October Parliament to launch Work with volunteers the ‘Saving the Earth continues on bank and campaign’ to draw habitat restoration at attention to catastrophic Manton Nr Marlborough soil loss and consequent river pollution across the country November Another raingarden completed, this time May for Baydon St Nicholas Glass eels arrive at Primary School schools taking part in our Eels in School programme December Tanks are set up in June five schools ready for Our team take our river model and Trout in Schools newly hatched invertebrates to the 2-day Englefield Schools fish to be delivered in January event, meeting over 1,000 school children January July Work begins to restore the ARK volunteers and staff are Stream and get the local filmed for BBC 2’s Britain in Bloom community into waders August February ARK appears on Farming Our Yellow Fish Programme Today describing the successful battle against expands beyond Newbury into the invasive Floating Pennywort around Reading Thatcham and Reading September March Our ‘Be Water Smart’ We help students from roadshow visits Newbury Royal College of Show with lots of water Agriculture look at how farming efficiency tips and give-aways practices affect soil and river health Creating a better future for the Kennet through:

Citizen Science 1 Read more on page 6–7

Conservation in Action 2 Read more on page 8–9

Working with Land Managers 3 Read more on page 10–11

4 Everyone’s River Climate change and Read more on page 12–13 ARK in Schools loss of biodiversity 5 Read more on page 14–15 are the challenges of 6 Managing Storm Water our age – and ARK is Read more on page 16–17 rising to them both.

I am writing this piece from a small ARK members can – and are – doing flat overlooking a large frenetic school to address them. I am talking about playground in Cadiz, Spain. Below the world crises of biodiversity loss me, a wild gaggle of Spanish children and climate change – two inextricably are playing all manner of sports from linked environmental factors. I sit here handball to volleyball and mandatory watching children play in an area of football; there is even a five-a-side practically no obvious biodiversity, in match involving, what I can only unseasonably high temperatures in an assume, are parents of the children. ancient city that is at its highest point only a few metres above sea level. I am giving you this context so you can understand my thinking. I was going I am not going to go all ‘extinction to start by discussing the ‘monumental’ rebellion’; I’m not going to suggest changes to management and policy of marching along Marlborough High the British countryside and the effect Street with placards or painting a logo that will have on the River Kennet. I on the White Horse at Alton Barnes. would have obviously mentioned the ‘B’ Instead, I just want to highlight how word, talked about the 25 Year Plan and ARK and you are seeking to address world agricultural commodity prices biodiversity loss and working to and their impact on the river. mitigate climate change.

Instead, I thought I would write about Over the past year ARK working with the truly fundamental challenges facing volunteers, supporters and partners has the River Kennet and what ARK and helped protect biodiversity (what we

3 Chairman’s Introduction used to call ‘nature’) by: Working with key partners such as • managing and restoring habitats and the Environment rearing and releasing elvers Agency ARK has undertaken several • monitoring and reporting on water positive activities around adaptation. quality, invertebrate, fish and Rain gardens and Sustainable Urban mammal populations Drainage Schemes (SuDS) have been • working with communities to installed in schools across the Kennet reduce water consumption catchment, funded by small Trusts. • working with farmers to promote environmentally sensitive farming. During this, another extremely dry year we have continued to monitor Towards the end of 2018, following a over-abstraction from the Kennet and call from an ARK supporter, we were push for further reductions. ARK can’t able to report to the Environment prevent abstraction from the river but Agency that a section of the River we can work with the water company Lambourn at East Garston had been and the regulators to at least seek illegally dredged. What was more to strike the right balance between concerning was that this part of the challenge and understanding. I would river is an SSSI and a Special Area for like to think in 2019 we got it right. Conservation. Following considerable encouragement from ARK and As well as continuing to work monitoring from supporters, EA took passionately with and for ARK, reducing enforcement action to rectify the my energy usage and driving an situation and remedial work has taken electric vehicle, my personal resolutions place. for 2020 now include finding ways of travelling to foreign climes that no On a more positive note habitat longer involve flying! restoration projects have begun at Stitchcombe, , Froxfield village, Padworth and Manton.

As a small local charity there is only a CHAIRMAN modest amount we can do to reduce our contribution to greenhouse gas production, but as an environmental charity we still should be taking the lead in mitigation. In the coming year, for example, we will seek to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and to become as energy efficient as possible

Where ARK is best placed to contribute to the climate change crisis is in its ability to promote adaptation to a changing climate and education around that adaptation.

5 Citizen Science THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR STREAMS AND THEIR WILDLIFE Every year our knowledge increases, thanks to the data collected by our citizen scientists.

We launched a new initiative this year passers-by to what is living among the to make it easy for people to report riverbed gravels. pollution hotspots. Throughout the Kennet valley, water laden with sediment, In June, Project Officer Anna Forbes, fertiliser, oils and nutrients enters our who co-ordinates and trains our rivers. By identifying pollution sources we monitors, was a guest speaker at the can take steps to reduce it and improve Wildlife Trust Riverfly AGM at water quality. We launched our ‘Muddy the Langford Lakes Reserve. Several ARK Walks’ app for people to report potential riverfly monitors also attended, making pollution routes. Please get in touch with the day a great opportunity to showcase ARK on how to download the app. the success of the hub and the long- term commitment and enthusiasm from We ran a Muddy Walks training workshop our volunteer monitors. for river keepers, whose livelihoods rely on healthy and unpolluted rivers. Once again we ran Redd Spotting events during the brown-trout spawning ARK is the hub for riverfly monitoring season to help us to assess the health in the Kennet catchment and 2019 has of the wild trout population. These seen more volunteers train and adopt riverbank walks with river keepers on monitoring sites. Trained monitors their fisheries proved both enjoyable now sample on the Holy Brook and the and insightful and gained us new Froxfield Stream, and we have a second spotters. A big thank you to Jack Uridge site on the River . There are at Eastridge Estate and Sam Marshall at now 62 active sites collecting valuable Chilton Estate. data and acting as the eyes and ears of the rivers. Our monitors are a visible Anna Forbes presence, acting as a deterrent to would- ARK Project Officer be polluters and educating interested 7 Conservation in Action CARING FOR OUR CHALK STREAMS AND THEIR WILDLIFE Working with communities to make a positive difference to our rivers.

Stonebridge Wild River Reserve, generously provided by the Kennet Valley which ARK owns in partnership with Fishery Association. Marlborough Town Council, starred in BBC2’s Britain in Bloom Series 2. Viewers The Rainscapes project has completed saw our volunteer team working with ARK more rain gardens in schools. St Nicholas’ to carry out a range of conservation tasks, Primary, Baydon and St Michael’s Aldbourne including extensive planting of Stream are now enjoying their river-friendly Water-crowfoot. gardens. The success of these projects is due to innovative designs by Wendy Allen On the outskirts of Reading we held our and support from local businesses and biggest-ever riverside clean-up, removing communities, as well as funding from two litter, shopping trolleys and bikes from charitable trusts. We were very pleased to the Kennet and . We also be presented with a prize for Conservation reached our milestone 2,000th ‘Rainwater in the Wiltshire Life Awards 2019 for Only’ plaque on storm water drains, with Rainscapes. the help of our regular and corporate volunteer teams. We continue to look for more opportunities to build rain gardens and wetlands in the River restoration on the Kennet at Manton Kennet catchment. They offer the chance and Ramsbury has continued and we to reduce localised flooding, increase returned to the Dun at Hungerford, aquifer recharge, improve river quality, as well as the Froxfield Stream. We reduce water consumption and increase are looking forward to building a new biodiversity – as well as providing beautiful wetland at Froxfield. We have also spaces for communities to enjoy. supported fishing clubs and landowners at Theale, Hambridge, Padworth and Holy Charlotte Hitchmough Anna Forbes Brook to develop and implement habitat- Director Project Officer restoration projects, using funding 9 Working with Land Managers HELPING FARMERS KEEP OUR RIVERS CLEAN ARK is encouraging farmers to use Natural Flood Management to improve water quality.

The risk of flooding in the Kennet Management can work alongside other catchment is not severe compared environmental initiatives to achieve to the surface-water catchments of improvements in many areas of the the Somerset Levels. But with intense countryside. rainfall events becoming more and more common, the risks to houses, Wilton Water is a reservoir built around businesses and farmland warrant our 1800 to feed the Kennet and Avon attention. Canal at its summit at Crofton. Three streams and springs feed into the Natural Flood Management uses reservoir, which takes the drainage natural processes to reduce the risk from the surrounding hills at the of flooding. One example is re- edge of the . Wilton connecting rivers and streams with Water has high levels of sediment their floodplains, so that the floodplain and phosphates, which in turn affect performs its proper function – to act the canal, the and the River as a store and receive water in times of Kennet. Natural Flood Management high flow and deliver that water back to techniques are planned for those three the catchment slowly. streams, so that even in flood, the amount of sediment and phosphates There are multiple benefits to Natural being carried into Wilton Water will be Flood Management over and above the reduced. The wetlands that will be part reduction of flood risk in a catchment. of the scheme will also benefit all sorts Restoring wildlife habitats, improving of wildlife. water quality and making catchments more resilient to the effects of climate change are just three of those benefits. Tim Clarke It is not hard to see how Natural Flood Farm Adviser

11 Everyone’s River CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THEIR LOCAL STREAMS There’s nothing like being by the river to make people feel better about life. This year’s riverbank walk was hosted Our Project Officer Anna Forbes by Barton Court near Kintbury. This recently qualified as a Mental Health was a new private location for our First Aider. The course run by Minding members to explore. The sunny day Minds, through Mental Health First was perfect for seeing this stretch of Aid , teaches how to spot the the Kennet and the river restoration early signs, how to offer initial help being undertaken by the river keeper, and support, as well as how to guide some of which our volunteer team have a person to appropriate treatment. assisted with. Many of our volunteers have testified Our members also enjoyed a dawn our volunteering opportunities have bird-ringing demonstration and guided given them fulfillment. What’s more, riverside walk in June, along the Dun volunteering is a two way street. We and Kennet. This was another example need them to achieve all we do, but of ARK working in partnership (in this equally they should enjoy what they case with the Hungerford Town and do. Manor) to have access to private sites in the catchment. In today’s busy world there’s nothing like working in the fresh air. Simply Access to outdoor green spaces and being in the river improves your interactions with wildlife is good for feeling of wellbeing at the same time your mental health. The NHS support as helping your local environment. the concept of social prescribing, when health professionals refer patients to Anna Forbes support in the community, in order to Project Officer improve their health and wellbeing.

13 ARK in Schools SHOWING YOUNG PEOPLE WHY WATER MATTERS The key to getting children to value water is to make it exciting!

Our Trout in School and Eels in School eel Release Days. As well as these two projects do just that. Through our Water projects we have been in demand for Matters programme ten schools took our River School activities for children part this year in these two projects. from pre-school to secondary school Tanks were set up and over several age. Marlborough’s Stonebridge Wild months we helped classes care for tiny River Reserve has been the main site, but European eels or brown trout. Fun and we’ve also run them on the Lambourn in educational hands-on workshops in Great Shefford and on the Kennet at The the classroom and in the river gave Wilderness, Kintbury. students an in-depth insight into these amazing fish, their life cycles and what This year we’ve worked with more than they need to thrive. 1,000 individual children and have provided 1,896 education opportunities. The project helps students, their Volunteers have continued to help us families and teachers to appreciate that run our educational outreach projects. they have local rivers that support lots Trained volunteers able to share their of amazing creatures. We help them knowledge of chalk streams and river life understand that they live in a water- have helped us work with bigger groups stressed area, but that they can play and run more sessions while maintaining an active role in helping their rivers by a high-quality learning experience for all changing their water-use behaviour. By the participants. becoming Water Smart they are leaving more water to reach their rivers. Anna Forbes Project Officer Our relationships with fisheries close to the schools meant we could provide idyllic locations for trout and

15 Managing Storm Water ADAPTING TO A CHANGING CLIMATE When it comes to action, small interventions can yield big results.

As climate changes, we are starting to funding allows. We have thoroughly observe weather patterns that include enjoyed promoting rain gardens to local more heavy rainstorms followed by communities and groups, and have longer dry spells. This rain intensity, also developed a set of resources to combined with changes in land-use can demonstrate the benefits of green roofs, lead to increased surface water flooding, rain gardens, storm water planters and greater fluvial flooding and, ironically, rainwater butts. reduced recharge of the aquifer on which we all depend for our domestic We are pleased to be a partner in the water supplies. LANDWISE (LAND Management in lowland catchments for Integrated flood Fortunately, we are now seeing the riSk rEduction) project with Reading development of successful strategies University and look forward to working for working with nature to create with communities and academics to landscapes that are better-able to cope learn how Natural Flood Management with heavy rainfall. These ‘slow the could work in the Kennet catchments. flow’, ‘depave’, ‘Soak’, ‘rain garden’ and Natural Flood Management approaches Charlotte Hitchmough are likely to be a key part of future Director catchment management. They can operate at any scale, from domestic gardens to whole landscapes.

At ARK we have been closely following the latest research and supporting our partners to put sustainable drainage and natural flood management in to practice when opportunities arise and 17 Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2018-19 Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31 March 2019

Unrestricted Restricted Total Prior period funds funds funds total funds £ £ £ £ INCOME Donations 31,954 - 31,954 25,648 Grants 27,791 80,850 108,641 160,488 Other trading activities 94 - 94 1,094 Investments 1,753 - 1,753 1,748 Total 61,592 80,850 142,442 188,978

EXPENDITURE Raising funds 3,716 - 3,716 3,268 Charitable activities 40,480 118,472 158,952 119,027 Governance 2,842 - 2,842 2,287 Total 47,038 118,472 165,510 124,582

Net realised gains/(losses) - - - 520 on investments

Net income/(expenditure) 14,554 (37,622) (23,068) 64,396

Other recognised gains/(losses) Gains/(losses) on revaluation (1,579) (1,579) 178 of investments

Net Movement in Funds 12,975 (37,622) (24,647) 64,574

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 179,998 160,046 340,014 275,470

Total funds carried forward 192,973 122,423 315,397 340,044 Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2019

ASSETS 2019 2018 £ £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 81,236 82,223 Investments 59,814 43,264 Total fixed assets 141,050 125,487

CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 16,917 31,082 Cash at bank and in hand 175,650 197,417 Total current assets 192,567 228,499

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (18,220) (13,942)

Net current assets/(liabilities) 174,347 214,557

Net assets 315,397 340,044

FUNDS OF THE CHARITY General fund brought forward 179,998 181,028 Increase/(Decrease in fund in the year 12,975 (1,030) Restricted income funds 122,423 160,046

Total funds 315,397 340,044

NOTE These financial statements are taken from the full, signed accounts filed at the Charity Commission on 7 October 2019. They have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Charities SORP 2 (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102). The accounts were subject to an independent examination and were approved by the trustees on the 19th September 2019. Full accounts are available on request.

19 Officers Patron: Lord Kennet

Chairman: Richard Clarke (Trustee) Hon. Treasurer: Martin Gibson (Trustee) Technical Adviser: John Lawson Ecological Adviser: Peter Marren River Habitat Adviser: John Hounslow Committee: Sean Dempster (Trustee), James Dallas, Kevin Light, Robert Starr, David Hill

Director: Charlotte Hitchmough

The charity is constituted as a trust governed by a constitution. Trustees are elected annually by the members.

Principal benefactors and supporters 2019

Co-op Reading & District Angling Association Elcot Creative Thames Rivers Trust Environment Agency Thames Water Allotment Group The G C Gibson Charitable Trust Hobhouse Charitable Trust The Revere Charitable Trust Kennet Valley Fishery Association Marlborough Town Council Our members, fishery members, volunteers Natural England and supporters

Action for the River Kennet

Avebury, Elcot Park, Marlborough, SN8 2BG t: 01672 512700 | e: [email protected] | www.riverkennet.org Registered charity number: 1120725 If you’d like to find out more about ARK, volunteering opportunities or membership please visit our website at www.riverkennet.org or contact Linda Nemeth: [email protected]

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