River Avon and Avon Valley initiative (RAAVI)

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The River Avon and Avon Valley Initiative is led by English Nature in partnership with the Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, Wessex Water and Hampshire County Council. Wiltshire Council is involved as a key stakeholder throughout the evolution of RAAVI.

RAAVI comprises two major projects in the catchment of the Salisbury River Avon system (Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset). The projects are an European Commission LIFE-Nature Project on river restoration (bid submitted Jan 05) and a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Project to enhance biodiversity, access and interpretation (bid submitted in October 05).

The overall goal of RAAVI is a healthy river system that is valued by everyone. It aims to improve biodiversity in the Avon Valley and on the River itself, and to develop access to the natural heritage of the river to allow the public to appreciate and enjoy the river and the valley. It also aims to increase public awareness of biodiversity and conservation issues and support for the sustainable management and usage of water resources.

The LIFE bid

The LIFE Project bid focuses on strategic restoration of the River Avon SAC. The bid comprised a series of river restoration projects at six sites in the Avon catchment, which will be used as demonstration sites. It was submitted in January 2005 for a project totalling £1,283,300 and the bid was successful.

The Heritage Lottery Fund bid

The HLF project will focus on biodiversity enhancement at accessible points on the river and floodplain, a stakeholder action plan to tackle invasive species and the improvement of access and interpretation throughout the catchment. It will involve local communities and volunteers wherever possible in a number of roles. The overall bid value of the grant is likely to be £900K - £950K.

Preparatory work has included the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan and Audience and Access Development Plans grant aided by an HLF project preparation grant. These plans identified a range of potential activities and locations for biodiversity, access and interpretation work. Stakeholders have been consulted on the proposals through a series of workshops and the project outline has now been determined.

The project theme is “the Living River”, and it will focus on how the natural heritage of the river system has developed through people’s use of the river system through the ages. Key proposals include:

• River biodiversity initiatives at three key sites- Salisbury, Langford Lakes and Blashford Lakes
• Identifying suitable public access locations and developing facilities (pathways, viewing points), maximising the use of existing access points and facilities
• Information on the river/valley and its natural and cultural heritage available on signs and notice boards
• Development of virtual access to the River Avon and surrounding area
• Development of a control programme for invasive, non-native plants

A successful bid will allow people who live and work in the catchment as well as those who visit the river from further afield to appreciate the importance of the river’s natural and human influenced heritage. The HLF bid will be submitted by the end of October.

For further information, contact:

Dagmar Junghanns (Lead Officer) (English Nature)
Telephone: 01380 737015
Email: dagmar.junghanns@english-nature.org.uk

or

Martin Gilchrist (RAAVI project coordinator)
Telephone: 01380 737019
Email: martin.gilchrist@english-nature.org.uk

Last updated: 13 October 2010