Let me introduce myself. I am Martin Gilchrist, project officer of an exciting collaboration with Salisbury Festival called the Living River project, which I will tell you more about in this first Blog and subsequent ones as the project develops.

Improving local areas to encourage wildlife has been my interest for many years. Even from an early age I could be found in the garden looking under logs and stones or building bird boxes from scraps of wood in the shed.

But things really took shape when I completed a degree in Zoology. It gave me the knowledge I needed to go out into the field, first as a volunteer but later as a Countryside Ranger for Hampshire County Council working at a busy woodland site on the edge of Southampton.

Now I have racked up 12 years experience in the field of conservation, having also spent five years as the Salisbury Community Wildlife Officer.

But what is this new role that I have? Well, it's an exciting project focussing on the River Avon and its catchment in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

Its goal is to improve the river and wetland environment through both practical work and increasing local understanding of the river system, showing how its natural heritage is linked to the rich cultural heritage of the area.

It encompasses the whole catchment from the headwaters in the Wiltshire Downs right down to the sea at Christchurch; however the hub of the project is Salisbury which is the major cultural centre and whose history is interwoven with the river system.

The Project partners are: Natural England, Environment Agency, Hampshire Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Wessex Water, Salisbury Festival, Salisbury District Council and Hampshire County Council. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

As well as the funding partners the project will engage many individuals and organisations throughout the catchment including parish councils, local trusts, fishing clubs, schools and libraries,

The Living River has three programmes:
• Biodiversity restoration of wetland habitats through on the ground restoration and a project focussing on invasive non-native plants.
• Access and Interpretation to improve existing physical access to the river and wetlands, including work with local community groups throughout the river system.
• Education and Training to help people learn about the river, its natural heritage and the issues facing it today, and provide information on how they can reduce their impacts on the river.

These will be carried out over four years until July 2010. Natural England will manage the Project with two dedicated staff based in Salisbury.

The first major activities for the project will be in conjunction with the Salisbury International Arts Festival in 2007, whose Environmental Focus is “Water”.

If you want to learn more, or be involved, then contact me Martin Glichrist, Project Officer – martin.gilchrist@naturalengland.org.uk .c/o Salisbury Festival Office, 87 Crane Street, Salisbury. SP1 2PU. Tel 01722 334856