West Cumbria Rivers Trust

17/06/2026

Our Assistant Director Luke Bryant joined BBC Radio Cumbria last Sunday morning for their nature feature, talking all things rivers, why they matter, and how we can all play a part in looking after them.

If you’ve got a moment, take a listen here, Luke’s interview starts 18:51 in
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002xghx

Rivers need people as much as people need rivers. You can help your local river by volunteering, supporting your local Rivers Trust, and making small everyday changes that add up to a big difference:
https://www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/river-friendly

And one of the simplest ways to connect with your local river is to get out and enjoy it. We’ve got walking trails across West Cumbria that help you explore and discover the rivers on your doorstep:
https://www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/trails

Give it a listen, then go find your river.

16/06/2026

We had a great strategy session at last week with our Trustees and the whole team, plenty of good thinking, good company, and just the right amount of rugby club atmosphere.

There was also a very welcome surprise moment spotting 'Balsam Basher' on the bar pump, which definitely helped the strategic thinking along the way.

Nip in and try a pint if you are passing through, or if you fancy trying out a bash for yourself, have a look at the dates here: https://www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/pages/wcrt-x-jennings-pull-together

Cheers to good ideas, good people, and a well-stocked bar 🍻

15/06/2026

What does a month as a conservation apprentice actually look like?

During May our apprentices have been:
🐟 Electrofishing to monitor freshwater pearl mussels in the River Ehen
🌳 Carrying out woodland management work for a new forest school area
⛏️ Helping install a heritage mining tub display at Walkmill
🪵 Building a picnic bench from reclaimed materials at college

From river surveys and habitat management to practical countryside skills and heritage projects, every month brings new experiences and opportunities to learn.

Read their latest update and hear about it in their own words 👇

www.walkmill.org/news-updates/apprentice-may-blog

Apprentice’s May Blog 9 Jun Written By Rachel Swift Apprentice update, from river surveys to woodland skills and heritage projectsThis month has seen our apprentices getting hands-on with a wide range of practical conservation, countryside and heritage activities. From monitoring freshwater pearl ...

12/06/2026

🌳 Walk & Talk: Summer Tree ID 🌳

Ever looked at a woodland and wondered how to confidently tell one tree from another in summer? Join us for a relaxed and informative walk with RAISE (Cumbria Community Forest) as we explore how to identify different tree species at Walkmill Community Woodland.

📍 Meet: Moresby Rugby Union Club
🗓 Saturday 27 June 2026
🕙 10am–1pm
🎫 Free

We’ll take a gentle walk while learning the key features that help with tree identification, from leaves and bark to the small details that are easy to miss when you’re rushing past.

This session is suitable for all abilities, whether you’re completely new to tree ID or just want to build on what you already know.

Please wear clothing suitable for the weather and sturdy footwear for an outdoor walk. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

We look forward to seeing you there 🌿

🎫 Book your free place now: https://www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/events/walk-talk-summer-tree-id-1

11/06/2026

Ready for more Beer and Balsam?

Our second open balsam bash with is coming up on Wed 24 June, 10am–3pm.

An afternoon helping nature, followed by a free pint, what’s not to love? 🍺 🌱

We’re tackling Himalayan balsam across our catchment. It spreads rapidly along riverbanks, crowding out native wildflowers, weakening habitats and impacting wildlife. Through this series of drop-in bashes, we’re aiming to stop 3 million seeds spreading across West Cumbria. ❌

Everyone’s welcome, it’s a great activity for all ages. At our last session we even had our youngest basher at just two years old.

You don’t need to stay the whole time, just drop in, do what you can, and head off when you like. We’re grateful for any time people can give.

More info: https://www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/pages/wcrt-x-jennings-pull-together
Register your interest: https://www.facebook.com/jenningsbrewery25/events

10/06/2026

We’re hiring 🌿

Two brilliant opportunities to join the team working on recovery across our landscapes.

🌳Project Officer (Commons)
Full time | minimum 12 months (extension expected)
Deadline: 24 June, 9am

💧 Catchment Officer
Full time | permanent
Deadline: 30 June, 9am

If you’re passionate about helping nature thrive and have strong communication skills, we’d love to hear from you.

Full details and how to apply via our website. https://www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/jobs

09/06/2026

We had an extraordinary 43 people turn up for the first ‘Pull Together’ balsam bash on Saturday. Thank you so much Cockermouth, it was a fantastic turnout, especially given the less than ideal forecast! 👏

For those who missed it, we’ve teamed up with to tackle invasive Himalayan balsam along the River Cocker, which poses a serious threat to our rivers, biodiversity and native wildlife. Because better water means better beer.
Our INNS Officer Izzie ran the numbers yesterday and the bash-o-metre stands at 50,490 plants pulled and around 13 million seeds prevented from spreading. That’s already 38% of our balsam target, with three more events still to go! Are we going to smash it!? Help us try!

Check out the remaining dates and book them into your diary here 👉 https://www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/pages/wcrt-x-jennings-pull-together

08/06/2026

What a week we had last week! 🌿

First up, a few photos from our balsam bash with the team from Jennings Brewery. Before the first of our public balsam bashes, they joined us to learn the ropes of Himalayan balsam pulling and got properly stuck in.

It was brilliant to meet some of the people behind the beer and see how much enthusiasm they brought to helping local nature. Thanks to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and joined the fight against this invasive plant.

More photos from Saturday's public balsam bash coming soon...

04/06/2026

🐾 Calling all dog walkers at 🐾

Keep an eye out for some wonderful new posters around the lake, designed by the talented children from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Frizington 🎨🌿

We all love , the wildlife, the fresh air, the beautiful walks and, of course, our four-legged friends too! 🐕💚

The children have created these posters to help remind everyone that a small act, like picking up after your dog, makes a big difference to keeping clean, welcoming and healthy for people, pets and wildlife alike.

So next time you’re out enjoying a stroll, see if you can spot their fantastic artwork and join us in showing Longlands a little love. 🦆🌼🌳

With thanks to our funders Sellafield Ltd’s Social Impact Multiplied and Cumberland Council