Restoring the Gowy Catchment: Cheshire Wildlife Trust

Spanning a project area of 22,581 hectares across west Cheshire, this programme aims to restore the River Gowy catchment to a more naturally functioning river system.

Over the last century, the river has been straightened, deepened and disconnected from its floodplain, losing around 7km of its original length and much of the wetland habitat that once surrounded it. As a result, the catchment has seen declines in biodiversity and a reduced capacity to manage flooding, improve water quality, replenish water supplies, and store carbon.

The first phase of the project will focus on developing a comprehensive business case for nature-based solutions across the catchment. Working closely with landowners and stakeholders, the project will identify, map and prioritise the locations where interventions can deliver the greatest benefits for flood resilience, water resources, water quality and nature recovery.

Through stakeholder engagement, the programme will build a shared evidence base that quantifies costs and benefits and helps unlock future private sector investment.

The second phase will see the delivery of prioritised interventions identified through the business case. These are expected to include floodplain restoration and reconnection, river restoration, woodland creation, wetland habitat creation, ponds and scrapes, and peatland restoration. Delivered through a combination of land advice, third-party delivery and targeted direct intervention, the programme will create a more resilient catchment while demonstrating how investment in natural infrastructure can provide long-term benefits for both public and private stakeholders. The cost of the second phase will be estimated through the business case.

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

Mixed ownership: project area spans both Wildlife Trust-owned and third-party owned land.

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.

The project will also be investigating direct delivery: implementing inventions that restore, enhance and manage habitats and natural processes.

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.