Welcome to the latest edition of the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project newsletter

Summer has brought another busy season across the Upper Wye. Over the past few months we've started a new season of invasive plant treatment, celebrated World Fish Migration Day, welcomed visitors to the catchment and shared knowledge with colleagues from across the UK.

In this edition, we explore why the Upper Wye headwaters are so important, hear from another of the farmers we’re working with, meet a member of the project team and discover some of the wildlife that makes our rivers so special during the summer months.

As always, the articles below are written by members of the project team - sharing updates from the riverbanks and farmyards where this work is happening every day.

Helping Farmers Make the Most of Local Weather Data – by Bridie

Knowing exactly when conditions are right for spreading nutrients outside the closed period can make a real difference for both farm productivity and river health.

During April, the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project worked with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and local farm cluster groups to install two new weather stations in the River Ithon catchment, north east of Llandrindod Wells.

The stations provide accurate local information on rainfall, soil moisture, soil temperature and weather forecasts, helping farmers make better-informed decisions about nutrient and slurry applications.

Using local weather data reduces the risk of valuable nutrients being washed into nearby watercourses during wet weather, improving efficiency on farm while helping to protect water quality.

The information is available through an easy-to-use app and will also help demonstrate good practice across the wider catchment as more farmers begin using the system. Bridie will be monitoring use of the data and will provide an update in later newsletters.

If you farm in the Ithon catchment and would like more information about the weather stations, please contact us using the project email address RestoreUpperWye@NaturalResources.Wales

Photo: One of two new weather stations in the Ithon catchment

Voices from the Catchment – by Brendan

Working with farmers is at the heart of the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project. In this edition, we spoke to a farmer from the valley below Plynlimon, the source of the Wye about why they chose to get involved. We have completed work at this farm and several neighbouring farms to create a long corridor of protected riverbank, that multiplies the positive effects of improving river habitat.

Why did you decide to work with the project?

“I was interested in fencing the river and seeing how we could keep the sheep out of the water. Brendan knocked on the door one day and we started talking, and it’s gone from there.”

What work has taken place on your farm?

“We’ve fenced the river and installed a new track, which means we don’t need to cross the river with livestock as often. We’ve also got a mobile sheep handling system on the other side, so it’s much easier to manage the flock without bringing them through the river.”

How has that helped?

“It saves wear and tear on machinery, makes handling sheep easier and is better for the river too.”

Why do you think farmers working together is important?

“If everyone gives up a small bit of land for habitat, it all joins together and becomes much more meaningful. Working across lots of farms has a much bigger impact than doing one small section on its own.”

What would you say to another farmer thinking about getting involved?

“Have another look at what’s being proposed and listen to what people have to say. Everyone’s a bit unsure at first, but working together is the best way forward.”

Why the Upper Wye Headwaters Matter – by Nickie

The Upper Wye begins as a network of small streams, upland wetlands and tributaries, but these headwaters play a vital role in the health of the entire river system. Healthy upper catchments help slow the flow of water, trap sediment, improve water quality and provide important habitats, particularly for fish spawning. That’s why we’re taking a whole-catchment approach to restoring the River Wye.

When these upper reaches are damaged, the impacts don't stay upstream. Sediment, nutrients and invasive species can all be carried further down the catchment, affecting habitats and water quality many miles away. The recent launch of the River Wye Charter has helped shine a spotlight on the importance of working across the whole catchment – which is at the heart of our work - and across borders.

Our project focuses on practical action where it can make the biggest difference. Working alongside farmers, landowners and other organisations, we're restoring riverbanks, planting riverside trees, creating wetland habitats, controlling invasive species and delivering slow the flow measures that benefit both local communities and the River Wye downstream through different counties and countries.

By improving the headwaters today, we're helping build a healthier, more resilient river for generations to come.

Photo: Possible locations of positive measures across a catchment [Source: Yorkshire Dales National Park – a practical guide for farmers]

Celebrating World Fish Migration Day – by Paul

On 23 May, Natural Resources Wales joined organisations around the world in celebrating World Fish Migration Day – a global event highlighting the importance of free-flowing rivers and healthy fish populations.

As part of NRW’s Wales-wide programme of events, the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project teamed up with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust and the Wye & Usk Foundation to host a family-friendly event at Gilfach Nature Reserve.

Visitors enjoyed river dipping in the Marteg and informal talks about the remarkable journeys made by migratory fish including Atlantic salmon, lamprey, shad and eel. The day also showcased the work taking place across the Upper Wye to improve habitats and reconnect rivers for wildlife.

The event highlighted the importance of sharing our knowledge about the pressures on the river in a fun way and working together with other organisations to ensure we’re combining our efforts to protect and restore the Wye.

Across Wales, colleagues from the Four Rivers for LIFE and LIFE Dee River projects also hosted events in their own catchments, demonstrating how river restoration is taking place across the country to benefit wildlife, people and future generations.

Photo: Celebrating World Fish Migration Day at Gilfach Nature Reserve

Photo: River dipping in the Marteg

Meet the Team – Catherine

Catherine joined the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project earlier this year as a Senior Officer, helping deliver practical river restoration work across the catchment.

Having grown up on a mixed beef and sheep farm in the Brecon Beacons, Catherine developed an early appreciation of the close relationship between farming, rivers and wildlife. After studying at Aberystwyth University, she built a varied career working for local authorities, a Wildlife Trust and the Ministry of Defence before returning home to Mid Wales.

Her role now involves working closely with farmers, forestry colleagues, contractors and organisations to develop and deliver restoration projects across the Upper Wye. No two days are the same… from carrying out river surveys and discussing ideas around farm kitchen tables to overseeing “slow the flow” projects and riverbank restoration.

As Catherine says:

“I really enjoy finding practical solutions that work for both farmers and the river. Building relationships with landowners and partners is one of the most rewarding parts of the job, and it’s exciting to see how this work will continue to develop in the future.”

Photo: Catherine and her loyal companion, Flossie!

Summer on the River – by Henry

Summer is one of the best times to explore the Upper Wye and discover the wildlife that depends on healthy rivers.

Keep an eye out for:

• Water crowfoot, whose white flowers brighten the river from June onwards while providing important habitat beneath the surface.
• Dragonflies and damselflies, hunting over wetlands and slow-moving water.
• Daubenton’s bats, skimming low across the river at dusk in search of insects.
• Sand martins, nesting in sandy riverbanks throughout the catchment.
• Osprey, occasionally seen fishing before returning south later in the year.
• Grass snakes, often spotted basking beside rivers or swimming across the water.

If you spot any interesting wildlife this summer, consider submitting your records to your local biological records centre, such as BIS, to help improve our understanding of species across the catchment.

Friends of the River Wye are also asking for your help recording sightings of Ranunculus across the Wye catchment. Submit your photos and sightings here.

Photo: Male (‘dad’) osprey delivers a fish to a juvenile in its nest – taken last year on the upper Wye. Credit: John Williams

Photo: Water Crowfoot on the Marteg

Learning Together: Sharing Knowledge and Best Practice

River Restoration Centre Conference, Newport - by Daisy

In May, we attended the River Restoration Centre's annual conference in Newport, bringing together river restoration practitioners, researchers and organisations from across the UK to share the latest ideas and innovations in river restoration.

The event was a great opportunity to learn from projects tackling a wide range of challenges, from slow the flow measures and fish passage to working with farmers and restoring river processes. It was also encouraging to see many of the themes being discussed reflected in the work already taking place here on the Upper Wye.

The conference provided plenty of inspiration and new ideas that we can continue to build into our work as the project develops.

Photo: The 27^th River Restoration Centre Annual Conference in Newport

Growing partnerships with the Woodland Trust - by Susie

Earlier this month, Susie welcomed colleagues from Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust and a smallholder to visit a farm on a tributary of the River Irfon. The project has delivered tree and hedge planting on the farm, using plants supplied by Woodland Trust through our partnership.

The visit showcased how new hedgerows, planted across slopes to Sustainable Farming Scheme specifications, are helping to slow runoff to the river, while newly fenced native woodland and fresh tree planting are supporting natural regeneration and improving riverside habitats.

The Woodland Trust team were pleased to see how well the planting has established following a wet spring and provided advice on future management, as well as discussing how they can continue supporting landowners interested in protecting and restoring ancient woodland.

Photos: Visting a newly planted hedgerow with Woodland Trust

Sharing Upper Wye restoration with UK freshwater specialists - by Hilary

The Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project recently welcomed freshwater specialists from across the UK’s government agencies during NRW's hosting of this year's Inter-Agency Freshwater Group meeting.

Visitors from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland visited several of NRW’s river restoration sites in Wales to see a range of practical restoration works. One of the visits was to our site on the Wye where we are trialling innovative ‘nibble-proof’ riverbank stabilisation using large live willow stakes. The idea behind this method is to install large live willow stakes driven deep into the bank so that the root systems will help reduce bank erosion, the new shoots will be above sheep grazing height therefore eliminating the need for a fence, and over time providing much needed shade along the river. This solution was met with much interest and enthusiasm from our UK colleagues.

The visit was an opportunity to showcase the collaborative work taking place across the catchment while exchanging ideas with colleagues facing similar challenges elsewhere in the UK. Sharing knowledge in this way helps ensure restoration techniques continue to evolve and improve for the benefit of rivers across the country.

Photos: Innovative riverbank stabilisation using large live willow stakes

Thinking like an otter – by Susie

The project team recently completed otter survey training with renowned otter specialist Geoff Liles, learning more about otter ecology, habitat and how to survey for their presence. Geoff was keen to highlight the lack of knowledge and understanding of the amount of time that otters spend travelling across land, not just along rivers.

They are particularly partial to frogs and will travel across land to reach ponds when frogs are plentiful, so we need to think about keeping their routes open and providing undisturbed areas for them to rest.  Geoff showed us plenty of signs of otter on the river Ithon south of Llandrindod Wells and we’ll be using our new found skills to guide the work that we are undertaking across the upper Wye.

Photo: Otter in the River Wye. Credit: Peter Lewis

About the project

The Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project #RestoreUpperWye is funded by Welsh Government’s Nature and Climate Emergency Fund, part of the Water Capital Programme, to restore the condition of the upper River Wye. 

The overall aim of this project is to protect species and enhance habitats by addressing a range of pressures affecting the river. 

How to get in touch and keep in touch

If you’d like to be added to our mailing list for future updates, please let us know via the email below.

If you’d prefer a paper copy of the newsletter, do get in touch.

Email: RestoreUpperWye@NaturalResources.Wales

Web: Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project Website

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