A PROJECT to preserve the natural beauty of the river Eden is to receive a share of a £2.5million funding pot.

Act for Eden’s Rivers, look after the waterway –which runs from the Solway Firth to Mallerstang – will land a total of £238,400.

It is one of four projects in the north of England, including Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership, to benefit from the Heritage Lottery funding, which will see more than 1,200 volunteer opportunities created across all schemes.

Eden Rivers Trust will provide opportunities for those living in the local area to take action to safeguard this internationally important natural heritage. The project will create more pollution fighters, habitat creators and river defenders.

The group will also organise Cumbria’s first-ever Youth River Summit.

A delighted Julie Lawrence, head of engagement, from Eden Rivers Trust said: “Eden Rivers Trust is delighted that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting ‘Act for Eden’s Rivers’.

“The project will inspire people to take action to safeguard the internationally important River Eden in Cumbria.

“Over the next two years, we will give people opportunities to become pollution fighters, habitat creators and river defenders.

“We will deliver projects that engage and support people to improve the health of Eden’s rivers – by making Everyday Action pledges for the river, gaining hands-on river conservation skills or creating artworks that spread the message.

“We’ll also organise Cumbria’s first Youth River Summit. We can’t wait to get started.”

David Renwick, from The National Lottery Heritage Fund added: “Through our conversations with National Lottery players, we know that nature is incredibly important to them, and the funding for these projects means that they can play their part in preserving the significant and varied wildlife that the North of England is home to.

“At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’re incredibly proud to be playing a role in ensuring our natural heritage is safeguarded for generations to come, but also that the projects we fund give people the chance to connect with the nature and wildlife that is on their doorsteps.”