The finalists of England's first ever river prize have been announced.

After much deliberation by a panel of experts the finalist were chosen to reprsent four categories:

The four finalists are:
Large catchment project, demonstrating a whole river approach to restoration - Wensum, Norfolk nominated by the Environment Agency.
Value for money project, demonstrating...

EXTENSION OF DEADLINE: 31 March 2014

 
Responding to various requests we have received we would like to inform you that the deadline for submitting an abstract for this year's congress in Gdynia, Poland, has been  extended to
31 March 2014.

Digging up trees and digging more drains isn't preventing floods.

In his latest Guardian article, George Monbiot investigates a 'major research programme, which produced the following astonishing results: water sinks into the soil under trees at 67 times the rate at which it sinks into the soil under grass. The roots of the trees provide channels down which the water flows, deep into the ground. The soil there becomes a sponge, a reservoir which sucks up water and then releases it slowly.'

RESTORE's Rivers by Design guide to river restoration for land-use professionals has had a few minor changes, including an update to the table showing the benefits of river restoration in the planning and development process.

The guide shows the crucial role planners, architects and developers the crucial role they can play in river restoratation. The document explains the contexty and need for river restoration and provides guidance on planing projects to make sure sustainable development is achieved.

More than a project report, the RESTORE Layman’s Report is an agenda setting document highlighting the achievements of RESTORE, while also looking beyond RESTORE and stressing the key policy and technical challenges that still need to be overcome to take river restoration forward. The report will provide a direction for future activities in the hope that these will be taken up by policy makers and river basin managers.

Download report: RESTORE Layman’s Report