Giggleswick Parish Council and The Ribble Rivers Trust have formed a partnership and are seeking to work collaboratively for the benefit of the local community and its residents.
Tems Beck is a significant and attractive feature in the village of Giggleswick and is probably the most interesting and diverse watercourse flowing into the River Ribble in terms of its broad range of ecosystems and the neighbouring landscape.
The wildlife in this wonderful watercourse is amazing, with trout swimming up from the sea to lay their eggs. Protected species, including native crayfish, are found in abundance and otters are often seen on its banks.
Landowners and owners of property adjacent to the beck, including the parish council who look after the Harrison Playing Fields on behalf of the community, have responsibilities as riparian owners. This includes ensuring the water flows properly, blockages are removed, flooding and pollution is reported. The parish council has facilitated volunteer days and local residents now spend time with guidance from environmental experts sympathetically clearing any woody vegetation from the beck ensuring it flows well.
At times, flooding has been a concern for some residents in the village and others have expressed concern about changes to the beck over time, including silting, sluggish flow, increased vegetation, and water quality. These views have been shared at parish council meetings, so councillors are seeking a way forward that keeps all residents and landowners informed and supported.
Together, the parish council and the Ribble Rivers Trust have examined the length of Tems Beck from its source to the point where it leaves the village. Ribble Rivers Trust is a dedicated environmental charity committed to enhancing the River Ribble and its tributaries for the benefit of both communities and wildlife. For over two decades the Trust’s dedicated team have been using their vast knowledge of the local area, and the natural world, to improve the 3479 miles of rivers running through Lancashire and North Yorkshire.
The parish council have asked the Ribble Rivers Trust to initiate a medium to long term strategy that will involve seeking funding for interventions that may be needed to improve the flow of the beck and co-ordinating with organisations such as the Environment Agency and North Yorkshire Council.
At the heart of the whole strategy will be ‘community involvement, education and engagement’.
This will include training local people as citizen scientists, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to monitor various parts of the river ecosystem. This hands-on involvement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for the environment and forms part of the Ribble Rivers Trust establishing the “Yorkshire Ribble Rangers”, a community group that will be at the forefront of the conservation efforts. This group will be made up of volunteers and citizen scientists from the local area, ensuring that the project is driven by and for the local residents.
The project will place the community at its core, nurturing a sense of environmental responsibility, and actively involving local residents in the protection and enhancement of the Ribble River source, ensuring a sustainable and community-oriented approach to conservation.
Ribble Rivers Trust can be contacted at admin@ribbletrust.com or by telephone at 01200 444452.
