Welland Valley Partnership

Catchment partnership vision

The vision set out by the Welland Valley Partnership (WVP) is for the river to be cleaner and healthier. To support more fish, birds and other wildlife and to meet the needs of drinking water suppliers and business. Provide a more attractive amenity for people to enjoy. Be sensitively managed by everyone whose activities affect it, continue to provide drainage and manage flood risk To realise this vision, the partnership works alongside individuals, land managers, local communities, businesses, voluntary bodies, local authorities, government agencies and charities. The WVP has set out an action plan to achieve this vision through the development of a clear understanding of the issues affecting the Welland catchment. Involvement of local communities through sharing evidence, listening to ideas and providing a platform for communications, prioritising actions to address issues identified and by the plan delivering integrated actions through schemes and pilot projects.

Chris French

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.

Catchment challenges

Current challenges identified by partnership

  • Changes to the natural flow and water levels

    Without natural stable flows, the impact on river ecology will worsen and enjoyment by the community will suffer

  • Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

    Agricultural run-off brings high sediment, phosphate, nitrate and pesticides loads to this Drinking Water Protected Area

  • Physical modifications

    Straightening, over-deepening and climate change means ecological damage in high flows and poor water retention in low flows

Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership

  • Nature Recovery, designated areas for nature and biodiversity

    Managing, protecting and improving the natural environment within the Welland catchment

  • Protect and restore healthy soils and nutrient balance

    Researching and promoting sustainable farming practices to reduce diffuse pollution into the Welland catchment where high Phosphate is an issue

  • Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change

    Use natural flood management to improve current flooding issues and build resilience to an increasingly unpredictable environment

  • Connecting communities with nature

    Promote community engagement with local nature and environmental education so communities understand, appreciate and protect the local environment

  • Removing plastics/litter from the water environment

    Protecting the water environment and maintaining its aesthetic value

Future challenges predicted by partnership

  • Changes to the natural flow and water levels

    The clay catchment and straightened channels exacerbate the effect of changing rainfall patterns due to climate change, with low flows getting lower and high flows getting higher

  • Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

    The Welland is a very rural catchment, with relatively impermeable compacted clay soils with increased risk of run-off, exacerbated by climate change

  • Pollution from waste water

    Future lower summer dilution coupled with over 60 small sewage works which fall below phosphate removal requirements will increase percentage of treated effluent in the rivers

Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency

Future challenges in 2050

  • Invasive Non-native Species
  • Pollution from waste water
  • Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport

Emerging challenges

  • Pollution from waste water
  • Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport
  • Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

Over the last year, the Welland Valley Partnership has completed:

  • Welland-Gwash confluence restoration works
  • Welland Headwaters and Welland Washes WEG projects
  • Lubbenham wetland project
  • Newstead mill desilting project
  • Lubenham/Welland Headwaters NFM Scoping Study
  • Great Easton NFM Scoping Study is in the final stages.

Partnership development plans

Welland Valley Partnership (WVP) continues to increase the number of projects to improve the environment. With the Environmental Land Management scheme, WVP should provide evidence for planning and delivering new schemes. WVP should be able to aid phosphate removal where it is most needed, through influencing water company investment and targeting specific sewage treatment works. WVP will build links with local businesses to develop carbon mitigating projects and strategies. The WVP also aims to increase its works on the lower part of the Welland catchment.

Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027

  • Confident

    Kibworth and Smeeton (Lagnton Brook Stage Zero Restoration) Nature Project

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    Private Investment
    Location
    Langton Brook

  • Confident

    Stamford Meadows - Welland Restoration Project, restoration of Welland river bank

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    EA Flood/coastal risk management programme
    Location
    Welland - conf Langton Bk to conf Gwash

  • Confident

    Stamford Millstream Improvement Project, continuation of community efforts to improve habitat

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Welland - conf Langton Bk to conf Gwash

  • Confident

    Water Friendly Farming Project, trial of diffuse pollution and run-off reduction measures (Eyebrook, Stonton Brook)

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    EA Flood/coastal risk management programme
    Location
    Eye Brook Stonton Brook

  • Confident

    Torpel Woodland Access

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Maxey Cut

  • Less certain

    Spalding Reconnected: Historic Town and Riverside, habitat improvement in River Welland in Spalding town centre

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding approval
    Location
    Welland - conf Greatford Cut to tidal

  • Less certain

    Rockingham Forest Vision Bid, habitat improvement and community engagement in Rockingham Forest

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding approval, work already developed in the area by partners
    Location
    Welland - conf Langton Bk to conf Gwash

  • Less certain

    Great Easton NFM, scoping study in final stages

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding for next phase of the project; engage landowners not currently receptive to contact
    Location
    Welland - headwaters to conf Jordan

  • Less certain

    Welland Headwaters NFM, scoping study completed

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding for next phase; engage landowners that are not currently receptive to contact
    Location
    Welland - headwaters to conf Jordan

  • Less certain

    Baiton Brook NFM

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Landowners not receptive to contact
    Location
    Welland - conf Gwash to conf Greatford Cut

  • Wider water environment

    River Wardens volunteer groups

    Reason for measure
    Connecting communities with nature
    Delivery mechanism
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Location
    Welland Lower Glens Welland Upper

  • Wider water environment

    River Welland experiences, an opportunity for people in care or with disabilities to connect to the River Welland through a shared arts experience

    Reason for measure
    Connecting communities with nature
    Delivery mechanism
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Location
    Welland Lower Glens Welland Upper

Catchment Partnership contributors

Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: