Major Restoration Effort Begins on the River Deerness
Wear Rivers Trust and Northumbrian Water launch partnership to improve 10km of bluespaces along the River Deerness
This project encompasses the Deerness from Waterhouses downstream past the villages of Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor to its confluence with the Browney just north of Langley Moor.
Wear Rivers Trust will carry out a series of interventions along this stretch to enhance wildlife and biodiversity, improve water quality and augment access to recreational facilities.
At the heart of this Bluespaces project are the communities who live and work alongside the River Deerness. Wear Rivers Trust will collaborate with local groups, landowners and organisations who act as longstanding custodians of the Deerness, alongside the Trust’s volunteers, to deliver a range of practical restoration and engagement activities. These will include:
- Monitoring and maintenance of fish passes to safeguard up and downstream migration, for all species
- Tree planting and wetland creation to provide riparian shading and establish new wildlife habitats
- Green engineering and riverbank repairs to protect footpaths, reduce sediment runoff and enhance biodiversity
- Mapping and management of invasive non-native species to support the recovery of native flora and fauna
- Citizen science opportunities, including Riverfly monitoring and ecological surveys, to improve understanding of the river environment
- Installation of interpretation boards and waymarkers, including the creation of a new circular walking route
Together, these activities will help restore the River Deerness, strengthen local stewardship and ensure the river can be enjoyed for generations to come.