River Glens Green Investment Zone: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

Flowing from the limestone landscapes of South Lincolnshire to the peatlands of the Fens and onward to The Wash, the Glen catchment presents a unique opportunity to restore natural processes across an entire river system. This project will work with landowners and partners to reconnect rivers and becks with the wider landscape, creating more space for water and nature while improving resilience to climate change.

In the upper catchment, restoration will help reduce rapid flood flows, improve water quality and reconnect limestone becks to surrounding habitats. Further downstream, the project will support the rewetting of peatlands, helping to reduce peat loss, store carbon, improve water retention and recharge aquifers. Across the catchment, habitat creation and restoration will strengthen ecological connectivity and allow wildlife to expand beyond existing nature-rich sites.

The project will also deliver benefits for local communities by reducing flood risk, improving access to green space and creating opportunities for volunteering and citizen science. With farming becoming increasingly challenging on some Grade 3 land, the programme will explore opportunities to support diversified rural incomes through nature-based tourism and emerging natural capital markets. Building on existing baseline data and habitat restoration work already underway, the project will create a scalable model for catchment recovery that delivers lasting benefits for wildlife, water, climate resilience and people.

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

Direct delivery: the project delivers change through on-the-ground activity within the project area, implementing interventions that restore, enhance or manage habitats and natural processes.

Project readiness

Shovel ready: all key approvals, permissions and agreements are in place. The project is ready to move into implementation.

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.