One thousand metres of riverbank are being fenced on waterways which ultimately flow into Bassenthwaite Lake in a bid to stem harmful sediment.
Heritage Lottery Fund supported Bassenthwaite Reflections has pledged £13,000 towards hedge planting and fencing on four stretches of watercourses. The aim is reduce the impact of erosion on water quality in the Lake District’s fourth longest stretch of water.
Sediment from loose soil on riverbanks is particularly damaging to wildlife and has contributed to the demise of an endangered breed of Ice Age fish. Vendace are now thought to be extinct in Bassenthwaite.
Head of community landscape programme Reflections, Martin Varley said working with farmers to protect watercourses was imperative in protecting the lake and landscape.
He explained: "The Lake District National Park is working on our behalf on a number of hedge planting and fencing schemes designed to target particularly problematic erosion black-spots in our area.
"These are where animals trample down riverbanks to get to the water and soil ends up in the river instead of on the land.
"Hedges keep stock in fields and provide great habitats for wildlife. We are delighted to be able to help with such a useful project, which protects cattle and sheep, keeps our rivers and lake cleaner and should provide better protection against flooding."
Work is ongoing in the parishes of Above Derwent, Underskiddaw, Keswick and St Johns in the Vale and is expected to be completed in the near future.
