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Project

Riverlands: working to restore Cumbria's waterways

A view of Watendlath Beck Borrowdale, Lake District
A view of Watendlath Beck Borrowdale | © National Trust Images/John Malley

Rivers are life forces. They’ve helped sustain ecosystems, cultures and communities for millennia, their quiet power steadily shaping everything from landscapes to place names. But many of our rivers are under threat from climate change, pollution, and human-made changes to the landscapes and waterways, which is why the National Trust launched Riverlands.

The Cumbria Riverlands project stretches from Keswick in the north to Kendal in the south, across the central fells and finally out to sea. It encompasses the rivers themselves, the land which drains into them, and the rich array of wildlife and plants that call these varied habitats home. Together, these make up our ‘riverlands’.

Working with partners, our aim is to restore rivers and catchments to be healthy, clean and rich in wildlife; easily accessed and valued for their heritage and beauty; and with sustainable plans for their long term care.  We’ll post regular updates of the work we’re doing here, on this project timeline, so keep checking back to stay up to date.

Cumbria Riverlands Project

24 July 2025

World River Prize Nominees!

We are delighted to announce that the Cumbria River Restoration Programme, which the National Trust helps deliver through our Riverlands project, has been announced as a finalist in the 2025 Thiess International River Prize, the most prestigious global award for river restoration.

Being nominated for such an award is a wonderful recognition of the hard work, dedication and skill of all partners involved. Led by the Environment Agency the programme is true partnership in action, with local communities, farmers and conservation teams all playing their part to deliver over 100 projects across Cumbria in the last 15 years.

Our restoration projects, from re-wiggling Goldrill Beck in Ullswater to creating pond water storage on the Dunthwaite Estate, are just some of many projects in the partnership that are bringing benefits for nature, water and people in this special landscape. 

It is an honour to have our hard work, and the fantastic benefits it delivers, recognised by the International River Foundation.