A River of National Importance

Flowing through Dorset, Somerset, and Devon, the River Axe is one of the UK’s most significant river systems—recognised as both a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Despite centuries of human modification, the Axe still retains important ecological features and habitats. It supports an exceptional range of aquatic and marginal plants, as well as protected species including Atlantic salmon, bullhead, otter, and medicinal leech. The catchment spans over 307 km², with 59 km of major rivers and tributaries.

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A System in Decline

For over 40 years, the River Axe has been in unfavourable condition. It currently fails Water Framework Directive standards due to:

• Chronic phosphate enrichment
• Severe sediment build-up from soil erosion
• Algal blooms and low water clarity
• Disconnected floodplains and unstable channels

To meet the SAC standard, average phosphorus concentrations must be reduced by at least 50%. Without intervention, the system risks irreversible damage.

A River Worth Saving

The River Axe shares its name with the Exe and Usk—from the Celtic word meaning “abounding in fish.” That name reflects the river’s natural potential—and our collective ambition.

While its condition has declined, this is still a living river: otters, rare plants, and aquatic invertebrates remain. Our work is designed to support their recovery, restore natural function, and improve water quality for the benefit of all.

Our River and Riparian Zone Restoration Plan

Our plan focuses on repairing the river’s physical structure, restoring natural hydrology, and rebuilding riparian habitats critical to the river’s long-term health.

In the submitted 20-year Land Management Plan, we set out a detailed programme of works in the main channel and the riparian management zone (RMZ), including:

In-river restoration

• 20 km of channel restoration, including bed raising, gravel addition, and re-meandering
• Introduction of large woody material to roughen flows, create habitat, and slow erosion
• Stabilisation of eroding banks using live willow stakes and riparian planting
• Removal of artificial structures that impede natural sediment transport and fish movement
• Restored channel complexity to support diverse flow types, riffles, pools, and aquatic cover

Riparian management zones (RMZ)

• Creation and management of 172 hectares of RMZ to buffer the river from runoff and restore habitat connectivity
• Establishment of riparian woodlands, wet grassland, and species-rich margins
• Invasive species control, including 2,578 m of Himalayan balsam removal
• Exclusion of livestock from sensitive riparian areas to reduce poaching and bank damage
• Use of coppice, brash, and local materials to stabilise banks and enhance habitat structure

Hydrological reconnection

• Restoration of floodplain connectivity in targeted areas
• Creation of backwaters, scrapes, and paleochannels to support water retention and refuge habitats
• Reduction of channel incision and increase in natural flood storage capacity

These interventions are designed not as isolated actions, but as part of a strategic catchment-scale plan to restore the River Axe SAC to a naturally functioning, ecologically rich state.

Every intervention in the project is focused on one goal:
to restore the River Axe SAC to favourable condition, now and for the future.

Farming for Recovery

The River Axe Landscape Recovery project is rooted in the reality of a working farmed landscape. Our ambition is bold, but our approach is practical: to restore nature and river health in partnership with farmers, not in opposition to food production.

The farms participating in the project – 28 in total, covering over 2,200 hectares—range from dairy and mixed holdings to low-input grassland systems. Each one has worked with our team to develop a bespoke, whole-farm Land Management Plan.

These farm plans are designed to:

From Nutrient Loading to Soil Building

Excess phosphorus, compacted soils, and runoff from maize and slurry are key contributors to the River Axe’s decline. Our work will:

• Match phosphorus inputs to crop need and reduce soil P indices over time
• Improve soil structure across 80% of fields, guided by VESS assessments
• Transition at least 1,200 hectares to regenerative systems including herbal leys, adaptive grazing, and buffer strips

A New Financial Model for Farmers

We aim to shift away from dependence on public subsidy alone. The project blends Defra funding with:

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) sales
• Green finance partnerships
• Potential private payments for water quality or carbon services

Each farm plan includes a route to finance—tailored to eligibility and market readiness. Outcome payments are tied to real environmental change, with transparent monitoring.

Skills, Support and Peer Learning

Our approach values farmer knowledge as much as technical advice. Throughout delivery, we’ll provide:

• Ongoing technical support from advisers
• Training in regenerative and water-sensitive farming
• A programme of peer-to-peer events for farmers to share learning and progress

This is not a withdrawal from production—but a transformation of how we produce. Farming here will still feed people. But it will also hold water, store carbon, and leave space for the river to breathe.

See Future Farming in the Axe Catchment for a video previously produced by the Environment Agency (working downstream of our project)

People and Participation

At the heart of the River Axe Landscape Recovery project is a belief that nature recovery must involve people – those who live, farm, work, visit, and learn in the landscape.

Our plan sets out a 20-year programme of engagement, education, and access designed to reconnect people with the river and its catchment. This isn’t just a technical restoration project. It’s a community journey.

Working with Communities

We’ll work with:

• Schools and colleges, offering outdoor learning and riverside experiences
• Young people and families, including those living with disadvantage or disability
• Volunteers, helping restore and care for riverbanks and habitats
• Local residents, through events, walks, talks and training
• Landowners and delivery partners, to shape shared solutions and build local capacity

In total, we aim to reach over 35,000 people through our education and access programmes over the next two decades.

Creating Access for All

We know the river can feel hidden or off-limits. That’s why our Site Access Plan includes:

• Safe, permissive access routes along restored stretches of river
• Opportunities for guided access and citizen science in sensitive areas
• Clear information about where and when people can explore the landscape
• Infrastructure improvements (such as gateways, signs, and viewing areas) designed for all levels of mobility and confidence

Where public access isn’t appropriate – for example, where land is ecologically sensitive -we’ll offer alternative ways to engage, including digital storytelling, events, and educational visits by invitation.

Learning and Inclusion

Every year, we’ll deliver:

• River-themed activities for over 2,500 children and young people
• A community trout nursery in partnership with local schools
• Inclusive outdoor learning programmes for:
  • Children living in the UK’s most deprived communities
  • Young carers and unaccompanied asylum seekers
  • Children and adults with mental illness or disability
• Hands-on volunteering and training opportunities in conservation and rural skills

Building a Circular Economy

Restoring rivers doesn’t have to mean importing materials or increasing waste. Instead, the River Axe Landscape Recovery project will create a local, circular economy—turning natural by-products into valuable restoration resources and rural livelihoods.

Local Materials, Local Benefit

Our restoration work will make use of:

• Brash bundles from local hedge laying and coppicing
• Thinnings from woodland management
• Locally sourced timber and fencing materials
• Soil and substrate reused on-site wherever possible

These materials will be used to:

• Stabilise riverbanks
• Build leaky dams and fish refuges
• Create habitat structures within and around the river
• Reduce the carbon footprint of restoration activities

This approach reduces waste, supports land-based businesses, and keeps investment circulating within the local economy.

Our aim is not just to restore the river, but to build a stronger relationship between people and place – where everyone has a role in caring for the landscape