Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) have been working alongside the Wild Trout Trust and the Environment Agency throughout January to improve a stretch of the Wellow Brook through Welton, an area popular with dog walkers and the local community.

This work has seen the coppicing of nearby trees to allow light into the river and open up the space for visitors to appreciate it. Natural woody materials have been used within the stream to stabilise the bank, increase the natural sinuosity of the river within its banks and improve habitat availability for juvenile fish. It is hoped that this work will result in a river that is healthier, richer in wildlife and enjoyed on a greater scale by members of the public.

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is a community-led organisation which aims to deliver education, land and river-based management advice and practical river restoration work across the Bristol Avon Catchment. BART pride themselves on getting their feet wet and their hands dirty and on getting things done. They do this by bringing together individual people, interest groups and community organisations with common interests and problems. BART helps to create achievable projects by adding their experience, practical science skills and by using its volunteer support.

Commenting on the Wellow Brook project, Ian Mock, BART Trust Manager, said: "We are looking forward to working with the local communities of Radstock and Midsomer Norton to engage them with their local river and to enable them to take steps to protect these important places".

Further work is planned in the coming weeks, which will involve community litter picks, invertebrate monitoring and the improvement of an access point into the river. It is hoped that more opportunities will be identified for future improvements as a consequence of this work and discussion with local communities. BART is also keen for volunteers to come forward as 'BART Beacons', individuals who can act as the 'eyes and ears' of BART, identifying problems and opportunities on their local stretches of river or stream.