Action Plan
Where the Evenlode Catchment Partnership will concentrate its efforts over the next three years (2027-2030).
Water Quality
Sewage is the biggest threat to our rivers, and increased housing and development is making the situation worse. There is also a lesser amount of agriculture nutrient runoff and historic groundwater nitrogen load.
Targeted Monitoring and Investigation of Water Quality
Objectives
- Investigate the worst offending pollution hotspots / suspected non-compliance
- Investigate sites with new/changed permits (as and when they come in)
- Investigate impact of restoration actions on water quality over time
Campaigning for Better Water Quality
Objectives
- Targeted communications with key stakeholders
- Disseminating information with the wider public – within and beyond the catchment
Engagement of Local Citizens
Objectives
- Awareness raising
- Capacity building – including involvement in citizen science
- Ongoing support, training and equipping of volunteers / citizen scientists
Scrutinise Development Applications for Impact on Water Quality
Objectives
- Review and comment on applications
- Review and investigate approved applications and permits
- Keep track of progress on developments especially where Grampian conditions are applied, taking cases for judicial review where conditions are broken
Biodiversity, Habitat and Landscape
Watercourses within the catchment have historically been altered to suit man’s needs, these are in the main no longer required providing opportunities to restore the watercourses to a more natural state and in turn attract more biodiversity.
River Restoration
Objectives
- Reconnect rivers and brooks to the floodplain by removing embankments, re-meandering and restoring perched sections.
- Prioritise river corridors where we have already reconnected the floodplain.
- Link areas of river restoration in Evenlode Landscape Recovery project.
Weir Removal and Fish Passage
Objectives
- Identify, seek funding and remove small barriers to improve fish passage through the catchment or create fish passes to overcome these barriers.
Wetland Creation
Objectives
- Encourage and support farmers and land managers to create and restore wetlands by securing funding to continue the Wetland Creation Grants Scheme (WCGS)
Wet Meadow Restoration
Objectives
- Work with partners to develop an Evenlode wet meadow restoration project to include priority habitat and historical grazing meadows.
Land Management
Objectives
- Continuous collaboration between partners and landowners to deliver land management changes to reduce diffuse pollution to benefit water quality and biodiversity.
Natural Flood Management
Within the Evenlode Catchment watercourses rise very quickly after rainfall and subsequently return to normal flows as fast. This creates issues when very intense storms fall creating significant flooding to several communities and isolated dwellings.
Follow the Recommendations of the Bledington NFM Strategy
Objectives
- Follow project priority plan, target willing landowners first.
- Sketch designs
- Secure funding
- Detailed design, contract and permissions
- Implement scheme
Engage with Landowners and Identify C/S Schemes to Target NFM Opportunities Around Principal Flood Receptors
Objectives
- Moreton In Marsh
- Shipton under Wychwood
- Ascott under Wychwood
Use Project Pipeline to Prioritise Funding Applications to Roll Out NFM Schemes
Objectives
- Secure funding
- Implement schemes
Engage with Landowners and Identify C/S Schemes Where Applicable to Target NFM Opportunities Around Minor Flood Receptors
Objectives
- Middle Barton
- Church Enstone
- Langley Mill, etc.
Undertake Monitoring to Assess Biodiversity Increase Post Implementation
Objectives
- Secure funding to repeat ecological survey at Littlestock Brook in summer 2030
Review and Record NFM Implemented to Date and Set Priorities for Future Project Areas
Objectives
- 2029-30
Engage With Students and C/S to Study NFM Schemes to Expand Understanding
Objectives
- WQ changes post implementation
- Asset maintenance
- Sediment trapping
- Flood modelling
Education, Access and Recreation
Our past work with schools has been extremely successful and we are now going through a reflective programme establishing what works best and identifying reasons why schools are reluctant to take classes into the catchment.
Sustain and Expand Educational Programmes
Objectives
- Maintain partnerships with local schools, embedding river-based fieldwork into ongoing science and geography curricula
- Continue and expand citizen science engagement, ensuring young people have opportunities for regular, hands-on monitoring and data collection
- Develop flexible learning resources, including online content and toolkits, to support teachers and widen access beyond in-person visits
Strengthen Community Engagement and Inclusivity
Objectives
- Continue targeted outreach to under-represented groups, ensuring equitable access to riverside learning and engagement activities.
- Build longer-term relationships with community organisations to deepen trust, participation, and co-creation of activities.
- Make greater use of the train stations on the line between Oxford and Worcester to make the catchment more accessible and attract wider community engagement
Embed Volunteer Capacity
Objectives
- Retain and expand volunteer networks, including Cotswold Voluntary Wardens and Duke of Edinburgh participants, to sustain delivery and maximise reach.
- Offer training and development opportunities to volunteers to enhance skills and confidence in delivering environmental education and community events
- Recognise and celebrate volunteer contributions through awards, exhibitions, and publicity, reinforcing commitment and visibility
Mitigate Environmental and Logistical Challenges
Objectives
- Maintain flexible delivery models to accommodate changing river conditions, weather, and pollution events
- Develop alternative local sites for outdoor learning to ensure continuity where access to the Evenlode is restricted
- Continue to address transport barriers by exploring funding channels or partnerships to subsidise travel costs for schools
Expand Knowledge Exchange and Legacy
Objectives
- Continue and expand digital resources, webinars, and knowledge-sharing networks to reach wider audiences
- Capture and disseminate lessons learned, case studies, and best practice to inform future catchment-based programmes
- Integrate monitoring and evaluation processes to continually assess impact, adapt delivery, and demonstrate value to funders
- Continue to work with university students, integrating them with our projects and continue to promote ECP as a centre of expertise