We are Transforming the Trent Valley
1. Connecting Communities through Action
2. Transforming the Landscape
3. River Valley Connections
A revitalised and treasured landscape of wildlife-rich waterways and wetlands is being made possible thanks to the ‘Transforming the Trent Valley’ (TTTV) scheme successfully securing a grant of £2.7m from the The National Lottery Heritage Fund in December 2018. This combined with match funding brings the total value of the scheme to £4.7million.
This is fantastic news and we were delighted to hear that our application has been successful. This funding will allow us to focus our work on part of the county’s most treasured landscape and heritage, and will be a huge benefit to communities, organisations and crucially, wildlife.
We are now looking forward to getting started with work on the ground and making a real difference to such an important part of our area.
Transforming the Trent Valley is a partnership project of 18 organisations working together to restore and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the Trent Valley, with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at the helm.
Follow Transforming the Trent Valley on Twitter at @TheTrentValley, on Instagram at TheTrentValley or like our Facebook page.
In May 2019, we officially launched the Transforming the Trent Valley Landscape Partnership scheme.
Many thanks to Aimee Booth, who shot and edited this video as part of the launch.
In November 2016, the Central Rivers Initiative partnership successfully secured a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for £256,300 to develop an ambitious scheme focusing on the River Trent and its tributaries the Tame and the Dove. Over 18 months the partnership undertook a large number of studies and consultations aimed at better understanding the need and the opportunities within this location.
The scheme will undertake a wide range of environmental, cultural and community-led projects within the Trent, Tame and Dove river valleys covering some 200 square kilometers from Uttoxeter to Tamworth and including the river valleys within or near to the main towns of Burton, Rugeley, Lichfield and Derby. Projects will include river restoration, improved access to explore hard-to-reach areas, and creating ways to reconnect communities with their natural heritage.
The final application made in August 2018 was given the green light in December 2018, bringing the total grant offered by he National Lottery Heritage Fund up to just under £3m. The total value of the project is £4.7 million.
Work will begin on the scheme in April 2019 and will last for 5 years.
The River Trent in Staffordshire and Derbyshire has been a site of human settlement and industry for thousands of years. The third longest river in the UK has long been important for defence, navigation and natural resources.
Romans once marched through the valley and evidence can be seen in the roads which still network the landscape today. The village of Repton, in Derbyshire, was the Saxon Royal capital of the ancient country of Mercia, and Vikings brought terror to the Anglo-Saxons when they invaded in 873AD, leaving their mark in the place names of towns and villages. Burton was once a religious site for pilgrimage and healing, and since became famous for beer brewing, thanks to the unique waters that flow through the rich mineral deposits under our feet.
Today, although still largely rural, the landscape is scattered with old mills and factories. It is pock-marked by quarries, and fragmented by new development. It is a landscape that has continually changed and evolved through time and it is continuing to change today.
We recognise that over the next 25 years the landscape will increasingly come under pressure. New developments are planned across the Midlands, High Speed Rail is set to scythe the landscape, and increased pressure for building materials means that new quarries must be opened.
There is a need to both recognise and value the cultural and natural heritage of the Trent Valley and to consult on the physical changes that will come from development, industry and climate change. The next five years are important to this landscape, and there are huge opportunities to influence and implement change.
We have developed a scheme that draws on the opportunity to create positive change for wildlife, heritage and communities. By working together and by liaising with the people affected, we will deliver a range of projects that will enhance the environment, support communities, and improve access.
We will help those working to protect our cultural and natural heritage. We will encourage participation and volunteering, offer educational and training opportunities for young people, and provide the chance for individuals to make a difference. We will improve access to the countryside and encourage people to think about how they move around the landscape. We will work on the ground to benefit the river and habitats by delivering projects that will help to protect, preserve and enhance our most valuable landscape features.
This lottery funding will give us the keys to help create a more robust and attractive landscape for local people and visiting tourists to enjoy, as well as restoring characteristic river valley features such as meandering river channels, water meadows and waterside trees.
Local communities will also benefit as the scheme will involve improving accessibility to the area on foot, cycle and horseback with new opportunities for exploring local history, wildlife, as well as for recreation and sport.
This is very exciting news and now means the CRI can deliver its long-term vision for the benefit of all.
The success of our bid is also testament to the huge effort made by everyone involved. I am extremely proud to have the privilege of being the chairman of this partnership.
Every Wednesday from 13th May, join us on our mid-week BioBlitz. Perfect for all the family to discover more about the natural world during lockdown.
Share your photos, videos, sounds, drawings, poems and stories with us on social media using #thetrentvalley
Want to find out more or take part?
Lets BioBlitz!Join Nicola as she explores colour in nature in this four minute video as part of this week's family friendly Bioblitz.
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Transforming the Trent Valley, in line with Government advice about Coronavirus, has taken steps to ensure the safety of it's staff, partners and supporters. All events and face-to-face meetings have been cancelled or postponed and is currently staffed by one or two team members during this time.
If you would like to contact us during this time, please use our contact form.
Community and Safety
Scheme partner Support Staffordshire have some useful links and guidelines including;
South Derbyshire CVS update;
4th May 2020
Take a moment to relax and enjoy this collection of poems about the River Trent written by the amazing, creative children of Burton Fields School in Burton upon Trent.
Trent Valley PoetryKeep up-to-date with all the latest news, views and information about Transforming The Trent Valley via our news and blog pages.
Latest News Talk of the Trent (Blog)We are encouraging community groups to plan and deliver projects within the scheme area which will benefit the natural, cultural and built heritage of the area.
These projects might include building a wildlife area in a school garden, creating an arts trail along the River Trent, restoring part of a historic building or putting on an event to enable children to explore the great outdoors.
The deadline for the next round of applications is 25th August 2020.
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