Nature And Landscape

Rivers Run Through Us

The Victorians described the River Axe as ‘one of the most beautiful of the sparkling trout streams which contribute to Devonshire’s claims to be the Arcadia of England’. Today, the River Axe Special Area of Conservation is in ‘unfavourable condition’, steadily declining through nutrient enrichment and sediment pollution. Rivers Run Through Us (RRTU) will take a holistic, collaborative approach to revitalising the natural heritage of the Axe, its tributaries and valleys, through stronger connections – between people and heritage, farmers and consumers, rural and townsfolk, soil and water. The project focuses on three themes: River, Soil and People, underlining that catchments are defined by water and soils, like the farming that harvests from them, and the people who depend on their produce. RRTU will nurture community action, monitoring river health, restoring soils and habitats, and reaching out to empower everyone to find their own connection with the river and its heritage.