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Project

Skell Valley Project

Skell river flows past the ruins of Fountains Abbey as it makes its way into the Studley Water Garden
River Skell flows past the ruins of Fountains Abbey as it makes its way into the Studley Water Garden | © J Shepherd

The Skell Valley Project (May 2021 - May 2025) was a £2.5m scheme led by the National Trust and Nidderdale National Landscape to look at ways of addressing the flood risk at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The project focussed on the River Skell which flows through the World Heritage Site. Working with 16 partners including farmers, landowners and local communities, the scheme delivered a series of projects over four years to help create a sustainable future for the Skell Valley.

The Skell Valley Project has now ended but the work will go on. You can download the Skell Valley Project report document here. This report reflects on some of the key achievements of the Skell Valley Project and looks forward to how we can maintain and develop some of its successes in the future.

The threat of flooding

The increased intensity and frequency of flooding over recent years meant there was a huge threat to Fountains Abbey and other heritage features in the Skell Valley.

Working with farmers and landowners on 20 sites up the valley, natural flood management measures were introduced to slow the flow of the river and reduce sediment washing into the water course. This included:

  • 10,000 trees planted
  • 7 ponds created
  • 29 leaky dams constructed
  • 4 kilometres of hedgerows restored
  • 6 kilometres of fencing installed to protect riverbanks and ditches from over-grazing and erosion
  • 2 kilometres of farm and forestry tracks resurfaced to reduce the risk of erosion and sedimentation in the river
Flooding at the Temple of Piety showing a tree fallen down and rushing water
Flooding by the Temple of Piety (February 2020) | © NT Jenni Shepherd

A team from the University of Leeds installed specialist equipment to monitor rainfall levels, river flow and water quality to assess the impact of natural flood management interventions.

To find out more about what the project did to safeguard the future of Skell Valley to make it more resilient to climate change you can watch a short video here.

If your organisation, group or club would like to find out more, then one of the National Trust Talk Service volunteer speakers, David Banks, has a talk prepared on the Skell Valley Project entitled 'Saving our Heritage from Climate Change'. Click here to find out more. 

Helping nature to thrive

Allowing nature to thrive was really important to help build a resilient landscape, so the Skell Valley Project team and Nidderdale National Landscape worked with landowners to restore and enhance habitats, planting native trees and monitoring ancient and veteran trees and their wildlife.

Skell Valley Project volunteers were trained in butterfly transect recording, grassland fungi surveys and mammal, wildflowers, and dragonfly identification.

Bat detectors were used throughout the Skell Valley to find out more about the species, recording calls from many bats including Daubenton’s, Soprano Pipistrelle and Brown Long-eared bats.

The photo shows two girls river dipping with an adult
River dipping at Hell Wath | © NT

Working with the local community

Encouraging people to get involved and learn more about nature, heritage and the landscape was integral for this project to succeed. Working with local schools, community groups and volunteers, people gave over 23,800 hours of their time to the Skell Valley Project.

Celebrating heritage in the Skell Valley

The project focussed on neglected heritage, restoring built heritage features around the Skell Valley including the Roman Monument in the Seven Bridges Valley and the 19th century bridge and boathouse in the historic landscape at Eavestone Lake.

New walking trails

Three new walking trails were launched by the Skell Valley Project:

The Fountains Way | Yorkshire | National Trust

Hell Wath Nature Trail| Yorkshire | National Trust

Skell Valley Explorer | Yorkshire | National Trust

The trails were designed to help improve physical access to areas of the Skell Valley and provide better intellectual access with new information panels and signage to help people explore and learn more about the natural and cultural heritage around them.

2 adults with a toddler and pushchair going across a bridge over a weir
The start of the Seven Bridges Valley on the Fountains Way route | © NT / Paul Harris

What's next?

The Skell Valley Project has now ended but the work will go on. The National Trust and Nidderdale National Landscape will continue to work together with local farmers to develop more ways of managing the threat of flooding as well as creating more resilient land and farms. The funding priorities for the next 10 years include:

  • Continuing to employ an Area Ranger for the valley and sustaining the volunteer team.
  • Maintaining the access and flood alleviation measures put in place as part of the project.
  • Retaining river monitoring equipment and commissioning expertise to interpret the results to understand the flow and sediment levels of the river.
  • Delivering further natural flood and sediment management in the river catchment.
  • Creating 3 new ponds and putting in 20,000 new hedgerow plants.
  • Enhancing existing walking routes and creating one new route in the Skell Valley.
  • Monitoring, recording and improving the condition of built heritage in the valley and re-instating lost features to two listed structures.
  • Hosting an annual seminar to discuss plans and share learnings with others.
Skell Valley Project logo & funders
Partnership & Funders | © Skell Valley Project

Timeline updates

21 & 22 May 2025

End of Project Celebrations

The Skell Valley Project is coming to a close at the end of May 2025 as The National Lottery Heritage Funding finishes. Therefore, we have held some project celebration events to thank our partners and volunteers for their contribution as well as sharing our learnings with colleagues and professionals.

A large group of people sat in a marquee
Skell Valley Project celebration event | © NT / Gabby Crisp

From Yorkshire’s Skell Valley to Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains 

Tackling climate change is a global challenge. Discover how the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) has facilitated a practical exchange of skills in flood mitigation and community engagement, connecting the two World Heritage Sites of Skell Valley and Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains through the Melting Snow and Rivers in Flood project.

 

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Grants and funding 

Find out more about the funding the National Trust receives from grants, and the projects it has helped support.