Land Use and Water

Land use has a huge impact on water quality in particular with pollution from roads and urban areas, via our sewage system and via farming practices all having a major impact. Different places and land uses, urban or rural, all leave a distinct pollution footprint on our rivers and all need tailored bespoke solutions.

In urban areas, plastic pollution, sewage discharge, industrial and road run-off affect water quality. In rural areas, topsoil run-off, livestock poaching and overgrazing add to the pressures our rivers now face.
Both point-source and diffuse pollution have a significant impact on our waters-our team of Farm Advisors, Engagement and Education and SuDs experts are at hand to provide guidance on how to reduce the impact.

Working with Farms

Good soil management is key to the protection of water quality. If soils are managed optimally the risk of soil erosion and therefore diffuse pollution is minimised. Similarly, best practice management of slurries and manures from livestock enterprises will help to eliminate the possibility of phosphates and nitrates running off into surface waters.

As part of our farm work, we organise site visits, advise on funding streams and support the practical implementation of projects that both improve farmland biodiversity and reduce pollution.

Working with Councils

Councils play an important role in creating access, reducing flood risk and promoting nature-based solutions in practice and concept. We conduct site visits, provide advice on flood risk and nature-based solutions in rural and urban settings. We advise on local biodiversity priorities and local nature recovery strategies and engage with communities.

Catchment Partnerships

We are catchment hosts for the Soar, Lower Trent and Erewash and the Dove and support the Mease sub-catchment partnership, though are involved across all catchments within the bigger Trent catchment area. As part of our partnership work, we create with partners a dedicated catchment partnership plan. The approach and activities in each catchment are slightly different, mirroring the needs of the individual catchment and the activities which are taking place there.