About The Trust
CATCHMENT
The source of the Ribble is located at Ribblehead in North Yorkshire at the confluence of two streams, Cam Beck and Gayle Beck. Numerous tributaries subsequently adjoin the Ribble as it flows along its 70 mile journey to the Irish Sea at Preston, resulting in a sizeable river with a catchment area of over 860 square miles. The estuary itself is among the largest in the UK at over 10 miles wide, and is an important protected site for overwintering sea birds.
PURPOSE
The Trust was formed back in 1997 in an attempt to restore the surrounding flora and wildlife to its former glory. Over the years, industrial and agricultural pollution as well as water abstraction and inadequate sewage treatment have caused severe habitat damage to the Ribble and its tributaries, to such an extent that the wildlife supported by the river has been put under threat. In recent years, water quality in our urban rivers such as the Calder and Darwen has improved, but the smaller streams of the Ribble and Hodder have deteriorated – the intensity of modern agriculture being the main source of the problem. Diffuse pollution is particularly damaging to small streams, as even small amounts of pesticides and herbicides can greatly harm wildlife. It is our mission to protect and enhance the water environments of the Ribble catchment for the benefit of current and future generations.
Our work extends over a catchment of 900 square miles, the majority of which is concentrated on the smaller tributaries and feeder streams as these are the “arteries” of a river and are much more vulnerable to pollution and physical damage. If these are healthy, the main rivers will be healthy. However this is no small task as there are a significant number of small tributaries, and very few people realise just how many there are. The map above shows what the Trust considers to be important tributaries, all of which support various invertebrates, fish, birds and mammal species.
STAFF
Director: Jack Spees
Habitat Project Manager: Stephen Hatton
Administrator: Catherine Birtwistle
Fisheries Scientists: Gareth Jones and Katie Gunning
Invasive Species Officers: Charlie Poate and Adam Walmsley
Community Engagement Officer for Ribble Life: Jo Spencer
Community Engagement Officer for URES: Vic Dewhurst
Volunteer Coordinator: Richard Atton
TRUSTEES
The trust is a registered charity and its trustees are;
Philip Lord (Chairman), Vince Edmondson (Vice Chairman), Dominic Bradley , Harvey Marchbank, Mike Horner, Chris Howarth, Alan Rowntree (Treasurer), Dave Wilmot.