Somerset Rivers Riparian Woodland Project: Somerset Wildlife Trust

Working across the River Tone and River Brue catchments, this project will establish permanent woodland corridors along up to 20km of riverbank through partnerships with more than 30 landowners. By creating woodland strips approximately 30 metres wide along both sides of the rivers, the project will restore riparian habitats at scale while demonstrating a replicable model for using nature-based solutions to improve catchment resilience.

The corridors will reconnect habitats, provide shade for rivers during periods of extreme heat, improve conditions for fish and other priority species, and help intercept sediment, nutrients and pollutants before they reach the watercourse. At a catchment scale, they will reduce flood peaks, increase water storage, improve water quality and strengthen climate resilience through carbon storage in woodland and soils. This change in land use will also provide space for expanding polutations to beaver infiltrate and in future manage with minimal costs, optimising the water and habitat banefits identified.

The project will also explore how river restoration and natural flood management can be funded through a blend of public funding and emerging environmental markets, including Biodiversity Net Gain, Nutrient Neutrality and carbon finance. Building on strong existing landowner engagement and local partnerships, it will develop investment-ready opportunities that can attract future funding for nature recovery across Somerset, while engaging communities through education, training and opportunities to support wildlife and waterways in their local area. By reducing flood risk across the catchments, the project will deliver lasting benefits for nature, communities, businesses and infrastructure.

The funding will mostly be spent on generating 30 year land use change contracts where landholders are paid to change riparian land from intensive agriculture to wide wet woodland."

By reducing flood risk across the catchments, the project will deliver lasting benefits for nature, communities, businesses and infrastructure.

Rivers 2040

A Rivers 2040 project is a place-based freshwater restoration initiative that contributes to the long-term recovery of river catchments through nature-based solutions. Projects can range from restoring floodplains and wetlands, improving water quality, reconnecting rivers to their natural processes, creating habitat for wildlife, reducing pollution, increasing access to nature, or helping communities become more resilient to flooding and drought.

Rivers 2040 aims to bring together multiple environmental, social and economic benefits at a catchment scale, demonstrating how investment in nature can support healthier rivers, thriving wildlife, resilient communities and sustainable economic growth.

Land ownership

Third-party owned: land owned by private individuals, businesses, public bodies, charities, or other organisations.

Delivery approach

Land advice or third part delivery: the project achieves change by enabling, advising, coordinating or supporting others to deliver interventions, rather than undertaking the majority of delivery itself.

Project readiness

Development ready: project design is progressing, key stakeholders are being engaged, and business cases, delivery models and investment requirements are ready to be developed.

Partners and funding

Delivery of this project may be supported by a range of partners and funding mechanisms. Funding may already have been secured from multiple sources and at different stages, contributing towards the overall project value and delivery costs. Contact us to explore current funding requirements and how the project could be developed and delivered with your organisation.

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Project benefits

Nature slows the flow

Natural flood management

Natural solutions such as tree planting, reconnecting floodplains and wetland creation, slow the flow of water through catchments, helping to reduce flood risk downstream to homes and businesses. These measures support wildlife, store carbon and improve water quality too.

An expanse of dry, cracked earth at a reedbed, the result of a drought

Nature stores water

Natural drought protection

Restoring habitats such as wetlands and peatlands helps store water in the landscape and builds resilience to drought through maintaining water supplies for both people and wildlife. Re-wetted areas provide a refuge to wildlife and store vast amounts of carbon too.

Bringing back nature’s engineers

Keystone species

Reintroducing keystone species brings back natural processes that improve biodiversity and climate change resilience. Keystone species like beavers and large herbivores are nature’s engineers, shaping their habitats in ways that enhance resilience and help other wildlife thrive.

Split level view of the River Itchen, with aquatic plants: Blunt-fruited Water-starwort (Callitriche obtusangula) Itchen Stoke Mill is visible on the left.

Nature cleans up catchments

Pollution reduction

Healthy rivers and wetlands trap sediment, filter out pollutants, and absorb excess nutrients, helping to improve water quality. These natural processes help the provision of clean and safe water for people and wildlife.

A group of adults and children in a community garden opposite a block of flats. The sign reads 'Forest Garden' and there are bushes and sunflowers, amongst other plants

Nature supports neighbourhoods

Community benefits

Restoring our rivers and surrounding areas helps people access nature-rich spaces, supporting their mental and physical wellbeing, and helping prevent illnesses. It improves air and water quality, and helps communities cope with flooding, drought and extreme heat.

This Rivers 2040 project is hosted on the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts' website on behalf of Wildlife Trusts. Project goals, fundraising totals and other information reflect the latest information available at the point of publication and may be subject to change.