MORE than £200,000 has been awarded to the Eden Rivers Trust (ERT) to help it preserve and protect the district’s waterways.

Act for Eden’s Rivers is a two-year project which an ERT spokeswoman said would give people the chance to become “pollution fighters, habitat creators and river defenders.”

She added: “From making a pledge to making a small change to their everyday life to reduce their contribution to the climate crisis, to cleaning up our riverbanks, there will be something for everyone to get involved with.”

Backed by £248,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the scheme will also see trust staff and local artists work with young people to highlight the problems rivers face through the creative arts.

It will culminate in a Cumbria ‘river summit’, which will aim to give young people a voice about how river habitats can be protected.

Julie Lawrence, ERT head of engagement, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to work with communities close to our river conservation sites to kindle their interest in their local environment, and inspire them to act through practical conservation activities and/or by spreading the message about the critical role healthy, freshwater rivers play in our future survival.”

She added the charity was planning an ‘everyday actions’ campaign to “empower people to make small, everyday changes to their lives” which would “add up to a big impact on Eden’s rivers and the environment.”

The picture on the left shows ERT and Sustainable Carlisle volunteers doing a litter pick in 2019.