Last updated: October 2021
The nonprofit organisation of Groundwork North East & Cumbria is working with partners from across the region to protect and preserve the upper part of the Ouseburn River. The Ouseburn River Restoration Project includes several physical measures and a number of enhancements to the river and the surrounding environment to slow the flow of the river, restore its ecosystem and improve water quality. The Project also works with farmers and landowners about how to manage fertiliser and sediment runoff, thus decreasing water contamination. The project will improve in-river and bankside habitats and provide with more water monitoring data and analysis.” (1)
Before the Restoration
Lesley Silvera, retrieved 08/18/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Other
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social interaction
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
1. Preservation of the upper part of the Ouseburn River (1)
2. Improvement of the water quality, hydro-morphology and the ecology of the river (1,2)
3. Survey and eradication of invasive species, removal of litter, monitoring of wildlife and planting of trees, which will keep the river cool, create riverbank habitats and help prevent bank erosion (1)
4. Slow down the flow of the river (1)
5. Regulate fertiliser and sediment runoff from nearby farmlands to reduce the phosphorous level in the water (1)
6. Improvement of surface water management within the catchment (2)
7. Improvement of biological quality and creation of habitat (2)
8. Creation of opportunities for social, amenity and education involvement (2)
Implementation activities
- Creation of 10 hectares of water dependent habitat (2)
- Widening the river at strategic points, sculpting areas of the river bank, altering meanders and installing silt traps to slow down the river flow (1)
- Collaboration with farmers and landowners on how to manage fertiliser and sediment run off, which causes high levels of phosphorus in the river (this diminishes invertebrate life and affects all aspects of river life) (1)
- Installation of a one way valve into the field (2)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Groundwork North East & Cumbria is working with partners from across the region, this includes landowners, communities, schools and local businesses. Specifically, partners include Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water Ltd, Natural England, Tyne Rivers Trust, Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University to observe and measure water quality to gauge the success of the scheme, which will also inform future work on the river. (1)
The wider Engagement includes Parish Councils, MPs, Councillors, developers, agents, planning consultants, farmers, Newcastle Airport, English Heritage. (2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The EU Water Framework Directive. (2) )
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
(Although the EA (Environment Agency) has identified different sites of the Ouseburn as degraded areas. (Ref. 7) )
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Newcastle City Council's 'Ouseburn Surface Water Management Plan' from 2015 (in partnership with EA, MWH and Northumbrian Water). (3))
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Other
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. GOV UK. (2017). Project launced to protect the Ouseburn River. Press release. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
Ref. 2. Cuthbertson, V. & MacCallam, M. (2015) Groundwork: Changing places changing lives. PPT. Groundwork NE & Cumbria. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
3. Newcastle City Council. (2015). Ouseburng Surface Water Management Plan, Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
4. Newcastle City Council. (2016). Flood Management, Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
5. Blue Green Cities. (n.d.). River restoration for flood allevation: improving habitat and reducing flood risk along the Ouseburn, Newcastle. Factsheet. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
6. ECRR. (n.d.). Environment Agency (UK). European Centre for River Restoration. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
7. Åberg, U. & Mant, J. (2015). Ouse Burn: Restoration, flood retention and enhancement opportunities and examples. RRC. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
8. Vaughan, A. (2018). Upper Ouseburn Restoration Project. Tracing Green, Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
Ref. 2. Cuthbertson, V. & MacCallam, M. (2015) Groundwork: Changing places changing lives. PPT. Groundwork NE & Cumbria. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
3. Newcastle City Council. (2015). Ouseburng Surface Water Management Plan, Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
4. Newcastle City Council. (2016). Flood Management, Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
5. Blue Green Cities. (n.d.). River restoration for flood allevation: improving habitat and reducing flood risk along the Ouseburn, Newcastle. Factsheet. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
6. ECRR. (n.d.). Environment Agency (UK). European Centre for River Restoration. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
7. Åberg, U. & Mant, J. (2015). Ouse Burn: Restoration, flood retention and enhancement opportunities and examples. RRC. Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
8. Vaughan, A. (2018). Upper Ouseburn Restoration Project. Tracing Green, Accessed on October 20, 2020, Source link
After Restoration
Lesley Silvera, retrieved 08/18/2018
Walbottle Campus Water Quality Testing
Lesley Silvera, retrieved 08/18/2018