River Beane Flagship: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

£50,000 goal
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust logo

The River Beane is one of 11 national Chalk Stream Flagship Programmes established to deliver ambitious, catchment-scale restoration. Following two years of planning, evidence gathering and baseline assessments, a ten-year delivery plan is now in place to guide the recovery of the river and its wider catchment. 

Investment is needed to provide the capacity and resources required to turn these plans into action, working with partners, landowners and local communities to deliver nature-based solutions at scale. The programme will support priorities identified through the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, helping to restore key habitats and species while demonstrating the benefits of collaborative catchment management. 

Working through an established partnership, the programme will align and amplify existing efforts across the catchment, delivering lasting benefits for wildlife, water quality and climate resilience. Improvements upstream will also contribute to reducing flood risk for Hertford, where around 30,000 people live and work in areas identified as being at risk of flooding. 

A ten-year delivery plan will guide the recovery of the river and its wider catchment.

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. 

Project readiness

Scoping: feasibility work is underway to define the project, understand risks and opportunities, establish delivery requirements, and assess environmental, social and financial outcomes.    

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

Swans in Channel
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.
Beaver Eating - David Parkyn
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.