News
Natural Course at the River Restoration Centre Annual Network Conference
Members of the Natural Course team and our partners recently had the opportunity to attend and present about our work at the June 2022 River Restoration Centre Annual Network Conference. The conference theme ‘making river restoration mainstream’ aligned perfectly with our projects, and so we were extremely pleased to have…
Natural Course: Leading the way for natural flood management in the Wyre catchment
When Natural Course was first initiated, natural flood management (NFM) was an emerging topic. It was not well-tested or implemented in the UK and there were significant evidence gaps. In this latest article, we chart how our work over the past 7 years has played a critical role in developing…
Water samples collected from rivers across Greater Manchester in new survey investigating microplastic contamination
The first set of water samples have been collected as part of a two-year study of microplastic contamination in rivers across Greater Manchester. The initial samples were taken April and are the first of three sampling campaigns scheduled for spring, summer and winter 2022. A total of 12 samples were…
Project update: Rostherne Mere wetlands… one year on.
It’s been just over a year since we created the wetlands at Rostherne Mere. Since then, the site has transformed from an over-grazed field through to a fully functioning wetland thriving with wildlife. Plant life has flourished, with a variety of plants naturally colonising the wetlands and reintroductions of Marsh…
Mission possible!
Here at Natural Course, we have an extensive monitoring and evaluation programme which includes detailed interim reports and the hosting of formal ‘Mission’ visits from NEEMO (the external monitors for LIFE Projects). At the start of May, we hosted a very successful two-day Mission in Penrith. We were joined in…
Blog: Delivering a Natural Capital Approach in Greater Manchester
We caught up with Krista Patrick, Natural Capital Coordinator at GMCA to learn how the natural capital approach has evolved in Greater Manchester. Background The growing need to conserve and enhance natural capital is well documented. We know that we are depleting natural resources faster than the earth can replenish them. …
Winter Wetland Bird Blitz – good for volunteers and good for nature
Did you know that spending time in and around green and blue spaces is beneficial to health and wellbeing1? The ‘five steps to wellbeing’2 encourage us all to connect, be active, take notice, learn and give, which is why activities such as this year’s annual Winter Wetland Bird Blitz (WWBB)…
Project Update: Monitoring winter water birds on the River Irwell
New report published reveals changes to water birds using the River Irwell In 2018, Kersal Wetlands (28-hectare flood basin that lies within a meander of the River Irwell and includes 5 hectares of urban wetland habitat) was constructed as part of a flood protection scheme at the site of the…
Project update: BRIL- New Action Plan launched for the River Irk
New Action Plan developed to bring the River Irk to life The Action Plan identifies and prioritises restoration projects and provides a funding strategy A new Action Plan has been launched (22nd October 2021) for the River Irk, that will help transform this neglected river into a thriving waterway that…
The latest news from our rush management trials
Background Located north of the Greater Manchester conurbation, but separated from the main Pennine range by the Irwell valley, the West Pennine Moors (WPM) supports a range of upland habitats and is an important site for wading bird populations (such as lapwing, curlew and redshank). Whilst a significant proportion of…