Flowing Free Again: The Epic Restoration of the Breamish Valley
One of the UK’s most exciting river restoration projects has just begun in the stunning Breamish Valley, Northumberland. Nestled within the breathtaking Northumberland National Park, this bold effort aims to bring new life to the Breamish River, once a wild, meandering waterway, now straightened and constrained by centuries of farming and human interference.
Home to rare and protected species like otters, Atlantic salmon, and several types of lamprey, the river’s health has sadly declined, leaving it disconnected from its natural floodplain. This has caused habitats to shrink, biodiversity to drop, and flood risks to rise. The Breamish is now officially in “unfavourable condition,” but this project promises to rewrite that story.
By digging out and rerouting the river back into its original winding course, creating wetlands, ponds, silt traps, and installing natural woody dams, the restoration will return the Breamish to a vibrant, living river. These nature-inspired techniques don’t just improve the river’s health, they create thriving habitats where wildlife can flourish and help reduce flooding downstream.
This ambitious work is part of the £5.8 million Life WADER project, a five-year nature recovery initiative funded by the EU and led by Natural England. Covering a vast area of Northumberland and the River Tweed catchment, it’s designed to revive thousands of hectares of precious river and coastal environments that have suffered for too long.
As the project unfolds, local communities, conservationists, and experts are coming together to witness a river’s remarkable comeback. By late summer 2025, the Breamish will be transformed better for wildlife, safer for people, and more beautiful than ever. A film capturing this incredible journey will be released next year, sharing the story of nature’s resilience and the power of working with the land.
This restoration is more than just a conservation effort, it’s a chance to reconnect with the wild heart of Northumberland and inspire hope for rivers across the UK. The Breamish is ready to run free again.
