Connecting the Culm
Creating a better future for the River Culm
Working with nature and local communities, we aim to make the river better for wildlife and people, and more resilient to flood and drought. We want to collaborate with those living in the River Culm catchment to help solve the river’s problems. As a part of this, we will use proven nature-based solutions that provide many other benefits too.
One of the project’s main aims is to create a long-term plan for the future of the River Culm that everyone is signed up to – the Blueprint for the River Culm. This will tackle the growing issues of flood and drought, improve water quality in the river, and create a better place for wildlife and people.
Connecting the Culm is managed by Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is supported, financially and otherwise, by a broad partnership of organisations operating under the umbrella of the East Devon Catchment Partnership.
Connecting the Culm is part of Co-Adapt, an international project funded through the Interreg 2-Seas programme of the European Union.
Co-Adapt includes partners in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, all focused on the impacts of climate change on flooding and drought, and how communities can get more involved in tackling the issues.
Steven Johnson, Project Manager for Connecting the Culm, talks about the project and how it will help make the Culm a better place for people and wildlife.
If you want to find all the latest news from the River Culm or the Connecting the Culm Project, you can get it all here on the website or you can sign up to our e-newsletter and receive regular updates in your inbox. Sign up for all the latest news here –
Help us design the Culm Blueprint
We are creating a long-term vision for the future of the River Culm…and you can help…
Latest news…
All the latest news and updates about the River Culm and its surrounding landscape
Soils Matter
A new video from the Westcountry Rivers Trust gives some insights to the importance of soil health, the challenges that different soils pose, and how climate change
Taking care of our white-clawed crayfish
Nicky Green has been working with crayfish in Devon and Somerset for almost twenty years. Her interest has grown over the years to the point that 'crayfishing'
Devon’s beavers are back!
M ark Elliott, Devon Wildlife Trust's Beaver Project Lead, shares the background to and prospects for Devon's now-officially sanctioned wild beavers. The 6th August 2020 will go
What is the Blueprint for the River Culm?
This short film describes the aims for the Blueprint for the Culm, which will be a long-term plan for the River Culm, the streams that flow into
Introducing the project – online talk
In our first online talk members of the project team Dominic Acland and Nick Paling gave a presentation about Connecting the Culm, what it aims to achieve
Culm Conversations – Paul Hawkins of Bradninch
This is the first in a series of short videos capturing the views of people who live along the River Culm. Paul, a resident of Bradninch and a
A day in the life of an amateur crayfish surveyor
Bruce Payne shares the delights of crayfish-surveying... During 2018 I had the great pleasure of working with the project team and numerous volunteers on the Culm Community
Get Involved in the Blackdown Hills
The Blackdown Hills AONB covers a wide range of habitats and communities and within this we have a variety of volunteering opportunities available on the hills. The AONB
Why anglers help protect the Culm
On 15th June 1900 a brown trout was caught on the River Culm that weighed 4 lb. The proud angler had the trout stuffed and mounted for posterity.
Learn the science of the River Culm
Scientific research, data & evidence underpin our vision for a resilient future river
Change is happening more quickly due to climate change and other factors – the river is under greater pressure now than ever before. We are studying the health of the river and trying to predict how its flows, water pollution and wildlife will be affected by the increasing impacts of climate change and other pressures in the future.