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 is likely to impact
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' is now a full-time
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 down in history as
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 it, and the land
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 and why it matters.
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 member of Sustainable Bradninch,
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 Crayfish project. This project
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 team is based in
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. I also know of
The National Trust on the Culm
Richard Jackson, Estate Manager for the National Trust at Killerton, which includes nearly 3 miles of the river, talks about the Trust's plans for the area and how Connecting the Culm
The wonderful wildlife of the Culm
The Culm and its catchment support a diverse array of wildlife habitats. It's not just the river corridor, with its aquatic and riparian ecology; the catchment upstream of this central artery
What are Nature-Based Solutions?
Nature-based solutions are techniques to restore or mimic natural functions in the environment, where the human systems we have imposed may be creating undesirable effects. They could be realised in a variety
Stretch out on the Culm
The Culm is one of the most accessible rivers in Devon, with public footpaths along many sections that allow you to explore this intricate, braided, looping watercourse as it winds its way
The politics of soil
Unless you work on the land, or have an interest in it, it might have passed you by about how important soil is. Beneath our feet, this ubiquitous natural resource, with its
The white-clawed crayfish of the River Culm
Once widespread in English streams and rivers, the white-clawed crayfish is now severely threatened and is close to extinction in Devon. The Upper Culm provides a fragile sanctuary to a small
Become a Culm Citizen Scientist!
One way you can help the Culm in a very practical way is to become a Culm Citizen Scientist. You'll receive training and support from the Westcountry Rivers Trust to enable you
The Water Framework Directive – results for the Culm
The health of a river can be measured in multiple different ways – you can consider the quality of the water in the river, in terms of the chemicals it contains, and
A river flowing through the centuries
The image above uses lidar data - obtained by laser scanning the landscape from an aircraft to show features that are difficult to see from the ground. Here, in fields near
Climate change and the River Culm
2020 has been an extraordinary year for many reasons already, and let's hope things don't continue to be so disruptive! In terms of climate we had the wettest February on record
Tell us about YOUR River Culm
We want to know how and where you visit, use or enjoy the River and the streams that flow into it. Maybe you are a regular visitor, or maybe just once a