St. John’s Beck
We’re working on a five-year project with farmers and landowners in St John’s in the Vale (near Keswick) to improve river habitat.
St John’s Beck is a tributary of the River Derwent. It flows from Thirlmere Reservoir through St John’s in the Vale and meets the River Glenderamackin approximately 4.5km east of Keswick. St John’s Beck is part of two protected sites (a Special Area of Conversation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest) as it supports several important species, including Atlantic Salmon and Lamprey, which are sadly experiencing a rapid global decline. The area is a working rural landscape, supporting many farming families and businesses that already play a significant role in conserving and improving the valley.
Similar to many rivers, St John’s Beck has been heavily modified due to changes in land use. These changes have included straightening the river and creating embankments along the river’s edge. There have been hydrological changes as well due to abstraction, which has changed the flows and sediment supply to the river. Unfortunately, these changes often have unintended consequences for the river’s ecosystems compromising the availability of habitat and food for Atlantic Salmon and Lamprey.
Planting along the river edge
St John’s Beck at Birkett Mire
Boulder reintroduction to tributary of St John's Beck
New floodplain ponds at Bridge House
To date, the Trust has worked in partnership with farmers and landowners to plan and deliver projects that will benefit the natural environment, while supporting local farming businesses. Projects have included the removal of hard bank protection and embankments, the creation of new re-wiggled streams and improvements in sediment supply, to name but a few. We also have a number of projects in the pipeline, so watch this space for further developments.
To understand how St John’s Beck is responding to the restoration projects, we’re also carrying out monitoring work across the catchment, including fish and invertebrate surveys, river habitat assessments and measuring sediment transport.
If you would like to volunteer in the area, sign-up and look for activities in the Glenderamackin Catchment.
For more information, email Project Officer Jonny.
Before
After
Shared farming equipment
If you farm within the St. John’s catchment we have farming equipment you can borrow (detailed at the bottom of our land management page).
Project funder
