Ribble Life

Catchment partnership vision

Through collaboration we will create a thriving land and water environment within the Ribble Catchment that will bring economic, health and social benefits for all. The agreed goals to achieve the vision are to:

• improve the rivers, estuary and other water bodies in the Ribble Catchment, supporting a vibrant and resilient economy and creating a great place to live
• deliver greater impact through collaborative projects that result in improvements to our water environment with multiple benefits
• work collaboratively to combat the causes of climate change and ensure that the natural capital (benefits and assets) of the catchment are valued and protected
• enhance the amenity value of the water environment within the Ribble Catchment.The partnership goals also specifically support the achievement of the government’s 25 Year Plan by delivering activities that will contribute to positive change as measured by the environment plan outcome indicators.

Related websites

Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.

• Ribble Life website
• Catchment Management Plans on CaBA website

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

In March 2022 we finished Ribble Life Together, which started in 2017 and included:

• 14 weir removal or fish pass creation projects
• the creation of 30 new woodlands and 15 wetland projects
• education and engagement activities such as bat walks, sketch workshops, volunteering, river walks, short films and a podcast.Two of our key programmes being delivered are:1) Ribble Life for Water, a £1.5 million Water Environment Grant partnership programme involving several partners, consisting of large infrastructure projects targeting areas of the catchment that are most in need of improvement and restoration. Projects include:
• peat restoration
• weir removal
• a bypass channel fish passage project
• river naturalisation and the removal of 400 metres of concrete lining a river channel
• a fish passage feasibility study at arguably the biggest barrier to fish movement in the whole catchment.2) Health and Environmental Action Lancashire (HEAL). Prioritising disadvantaged communities and those with long-term health conditions, HEAL will connect people with nature across the Ribble, Lune and Wyre Catchments, protect species, create and restore habitats. This programme includes:
• heathland, wildflower meadow and woodland management
• river enhancement including wetland creation
• community asset improvement
• active volunteering and engagement activities which help improve both physical and mental health and wellbeing
• safeguarding and creating jobs across the partnership.We are developing new partnerships and improving how environmental charities, public bodies and local businesses work together to protect and improve our water resources and the wider environment.

Partnership development plans

The partnership is strong with high levels of engagement with our meetings, consultations, and wider activities. We will build on the success of the last few years by developing and delivering more collaborative projects. We have developed GIS, data and evidence-based tools to support more effective identification and prioritisation of projects, helping us focus our work. In future we will use these assets to grow our network and continue our work and positive impact throughout the catchment. We would like to become more inclusive – reflecting the catchment we serve and engaging more widely with communities. We will engage with Defra’s new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS), and ensure strong local representation of the water environment through engagement with Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). We will build stronger working relationships with local stakeholders and providing local expertise to support ongoing investment and enhancement of our catchment area.