West Cumbria Rivers Trust

WCRT is a new environmental charity. The principal objectives are to improve the aquatic environment of the rivers, lakes and wider catchments in the western and north western parts of the Lake District. Within this area are the rivers Ellen, Derwent, Ehen, Calder, Esk, Irt and Mite and their tributaries and the lakes of Derwentwater, Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite, Crummock, Buttermere, Loweswater, Ennerdale and Wastwater.

See our Rivers and Lakes Page

Key Aims

  1. Improve the environmental quality of rivers and lakes.
  2. The sustainable use of rivers and lakes as a community resource.
  3. Initiate, fund and lead major projects that also create employment opportunities.
  4. To create education programmes within the community, schools and colleges.
  5. Achieve our objectives through working with landowners, farmers and all river users.
  6. To conserve our rivers and lakes and their flora and fauna for future generations.

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WCRT is part of the national network of river trusts which have played an ever increasing role over the last decade or so in environmental improvements throughout the country. WCRT is affiliated to the national parent body “the Rivers Trust” See our Rivers Trust Page

Indeed this part of the country was one of the last not to have its own dedicated rivers trust. Locally the Eden Rivers Trust has been established for 15 years and more recently the South Cumbria Rivers Trust was formed.

WCRT covers the parts of Cumbria (or most of them) not covered previously by the other two Cumbrian river trusts and its creation is an important piece in the national rivers trusts jigsaw.
In March of 2011 the Trust entered into a River Restoration Project with the Environment Agency and Natural England. The aim of the project is to find SSSI sections of the Derwent or its tributaries which would benefit from restoration to original state and then to project manage and implement restoration strategies.See Our Projects Page

It is fair to say that WCRT would not exist were it not for this “Catalyst” project and recognition in this regard must go to the other partners namely the Environment Agency and Natural England who are the project´s principal funders.

How Can You Help The West Cumbria Rivers Trust?

There are many ways in which you can help WCRT as an individual, a group or as a business. Like any charity we need financial support.
We also need individual and group volunteers to assist with project work.
Get Involved