Sir, – I am sure that many of your readers will have been concerned to read last week’s article about the adverse impact on the River Cover of soil erosion caused by a recent cloudburst on the slopes of Great Whernside.

It may interest them to know that the Dales Rivers Trust is working in partnership with other voluntary and statutory bodies to counter the effects of such extreme weather events as well as the more regular causes of erosion and increased silt loading in our local rivers.

The trust has, in co-operation with farmers and landowners, carried out a range of work in Coverdale, to protect and reinforce river banks by fencing off livestock, planting willow saplings and also planting trees to reduce the amount and speed of water run-off on upper slopes. We are also supporting research by Leeds University on the River Cover aimed at developing improved techniques for natural flood management.

The likelihood that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of heavy rain underlines the need for such measures and the importance of taking a widely based whole-catchment approach to river management. The trust has recognised this by taking a lead role in the Dales to Vale Rivers Network which has been set up to address issues of water quality and its significance for the wider environment across the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe catchments.

Much work still needs to be done and anyone interested in learning about the trust’s activities and even better, becoming a supporter, can find out more at yorkshiredalesriverstrust.com

ANDREW BROWN Chairman, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.