Tamar Catchment Partnership Summer Meeting

The Tamar Catchment Partnership held their summer meeting on the 18th June in Saltash, bringing together a broad mix of stakeholders, with the day taking on a fish theme. WRT host the Tamar Catchment Partnership (Giles and Jenny), along with co-hosting the South Devon (Nicola and Zoe C.) and East Devon (Yog) Catchment Partnerships. The day was organised and hosted online by Jenny, with Giles chairing the in-person event alongside Rob Price (EA Catchment Co-ordinator), with technical support provided by Ada and Alice from the EE Team. 

As part of the national Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) initiative, the Partnership works collaboratively to identify and support better environmental outcomes throughout the Tamar catchment—covering its rivers, tributaries, estuaries and coastal waters. The aim of CaBA is to maximise the natural value of our environment through collaborative, catchment-scale working—from source to sea—delivering environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting our water environments for the benefit of all. 

The morning hybrid session featured five presentations from partners from the River Tamar and Tributaries Fisheries Association, Lynher River Association (LRA), Environment Agency, Plymouth Marine Laboratories and Westcountry Rivers Trust. Presenters gave an overview of the historical and current issues facing fish in the Tamar.  Presenters shared project updates on the fantastic work being done in the catchment, such as the LRA salmon hatchery, the Tamar Index River Fisheries Reporting, Vis4Sea and our very own Annabel gave a fantastic rundown of Upstream Thinking 3.  

After a networking lunch of hot pasties, attendees headed out for a very sunny site visit to Coombe Mill Farm in Pillaton, where the landowners are coming out of intensive arable farming and are working to reconnect flood plains and restore wetland areas. The visit was led by Rob Price (EA), with the landowners (and their two dogs) helping guide the group through the site, which offered stunning views across the River Lynher. Alongside the flood mitigation benefits provided by this project, the landowners are keen to see the ecological co-benefits that may arise from restoring the wetland habitat.  

If you are working in the Tamar catchment and are not already on the TCP mailing list, please email Jenny who will be happy to add you.