Holnicote Estate Riverlands Project Site Visit | ALLERFORD | IN-PERSON

Hosted by the CIWEM South Western branch and National Trust

Event description

We invite you to join our forthcoming site visit to experience the National Trust’s collaborative flagship Riverlands Project, which is continuing to evolve across the Holnicote Estate in West Somerset. This highly innovative environmental project was the Winner of the 2025 UK River Prize, awarded by the River Restoration Centre (RRC), winning the Catchment Restoration Award.

Located on the northern edge of Exmoor National Park, the Porlock Vale Streams Riverlands Project, offers a wide variety of pioneering, integrated, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to help tackle pollution, flood risk, and climate change. The project has restored natural processes and ecological function through five main schemes across the Holnicote Estate, which covers a 12,500 acre stretch of land and encompasses two river catchments: the River Aller and Horner Water. Many smaller interventions have also been delivered in the area at catchment scale.

After welcoming you there will be a presentation from our National Trust hosts explaining about the Riverlands project, including about the work undertaken as part of the River Aller Floodplain Reconnection Scheme, known as "Stage Zero", and the work done at Tivington Farm upstream of the River Aller scheme, as well as the beaver introduction in 2020.

Following the presentations, we will set off on the site visit and then return to the Allerford and Selworthy Community Hall for final closing remarks and to freshen up before heading home.

Please note that delegates should bring their own lunch and refreshments with them on the day, as only water will be available at the community hall and there will be no food outlets available once we head off on the site visit.

Also, wear clothes appropriate to the weather conditions and terrain and remember to bring your wellies which will be essential on this visit!

Part of the CIWEM Nature-based Solutions, Climate Emergency Adaption and Resilience and Flood Resilience and Adaptions series.

Who should attend

• Anyone who wishes to gain an understanding about the practical implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) on site at a catchment level
• Early career individuals working in or interested in the water and environmental management sector
• Those working for water and sewerage companies, consultancies, the Environment Agency and other public bodies, and academia

Why you should attend

• The opportunity to see first hand the work being done by the National Trust on this award winning project
• Gain an understanding about the practical implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) on site at a catchment level
• Depending on the circumstances, possible chance of seeing the Eurasian beavers living in the wild on the estate
• Gain valuable CPD experience and develop your technical skills in this area
• Opportunities to network throughout the day with the National Trust staff, and other professionals working within the water and environmental management sector

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Programme

10:00 – 10:45 | Arrival and parking

10:45 – 11:05

Welcome and introduction, including health and safety summary

Daniel Fitzgerald | committee member | CIWEM South Western branch committee

Andrew Dannatt | chair | CIWEM South Western branch committee

11:05 – 12:00

Presentation on the Holnicote Estate Riverlands Project

Ben Eardley | Senior Project Manager | National Trust

Jack Siviter | Project Officer | National Trust

Charlotte Burke | Community Participation and Volunteering Manager | National Trust

12:00 – 12:30 | Lunch

12:30 – 15:30

Tour of the Holnicote Estate Riverlands Project

Ben Eardley | Senior Project Manager | National Trust

Jack Siviter | Project Officer | National Trust

Charlotte Burke | Community Participation and Volunteering Manager | National Trust

15:30 – 16:00

Return to the Allerford and Selworthy Community Hall and refresh before leaving for home

16:00 | Close

About the speakers

Ben Eardley | Senior Project Manager | National Trust

Jack Siviter | Project Officer | National Trust

Charlotte Burke | Community Participation and Volunteering Manager | National Trust

We would very much like to thank the National Trust for kindly hosting us for the day, and to Admiral for supporting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) at the Holnicote Estate.

Booking and joining information

This event is open to members and non-members of CIWEM.

Please note there is limited capacity at this event. Bookings must be made through 'My CIWEM' using the above booking link. Non-members who have not registered for the MyCIWEM system can create an account on the booking page in order to reserve their place.

If you have any questions about your booking or would like to cancel your attendance, please contact branches@ciwem.org.

Please note that registrations close at 09:00, two working days before the event is to take place. If you have not registered by then, unfortunately we cannot add you to the event.

If you have any queries about this site visit, please contact Daniel Fitzgerald, CIWEM South Western branch committee member, at daniel.fitzgerald@wessexwater.co.uk

About the venues, health and safety guidelines and getting there

We will use the Allerford and Selworthy Community Hall as our base for the day, including leaving the cars in the hall's private car park. After the presentations which will be given in the morning inside the Community Hall, we will have our packed lunches, and will then walk around the Riverlands Project itself during the afternoon.

Please note all delegates should bring their own packed lunches and hot/cold drinks, as only water will be available at the community hall and there is no provision for food and refreshments when we go for the site visit after lunch.

During the site visit, we will be walking in the outside environment within the Holnicote Estate, including areas where there is uneven, wet and muddy terrain adjacent to streams and across fields of long grass, so you will need to wear appropriate clothing for the terrain and the weather.

Wellies are an essential for this site visit, as the “Stage Zero” wetland area will be wet and muddy and no spare wellington boots will be available on the day.

Also, please ensure that your legs are covered to avoid tick bites, and do bring along your own PPE, including Hi-Vis jacket.

We would advise checking the weather forecast on the day itself, and bring along waterproofs if it is going to be wet, or hats and suncream if it is hot and sunny.

Travelling to the venue

As part of CIWEM’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency we would encourage delegates to use the most environmentally sustainable means of transport possible.

If you are coming by car or taxi, please consider sharing the journey with others to reduce your environmental footprint. The main parking area will be at the Allerford and Selworthy Community Hall car park. However, there is an overflow public car park in Allerford, where you can park if we run out of spaces in the hall car park. Marshalling of the parking will start at 10:00 but please do arrive by 10:45 at the latest to allow time to ensure that we are all gathered for a prompt start at 11:00.

For more general information and details about health and safety considerations, please see the event guidelines below.