Connecting the Red River

Connecting the Red River is an ambitious project seeking to understand long-term environmental change in the Red River Valley in order to design enhancements and inform management that will deliver:

• Water Environment Benefits and Nature Recovery
• Improved Accessibility and Connectivity with a Nature-rich Landscape for People

The Red River is steeped in history and character, from its source near Bolenowe, through the mining heartlands of Brea and Tuckingmill right through to the coast at Godrevy's iconic dune-flanked sandy beach. It pours through a landscape that has been modified by human activity over centuries of mining industry that has resulted in the river being predominantly contained in a constructed channel, disconnected with the natural floodplain.

Helping to re-naturalise the river's environment could bring greater diversity of rare wetland habitats, and the wildlife these support. Additionally, the Red River Valley has long been a place for people, historically a place of work as well as leisure, and a natural corridor between the urban area and the stunning coastline.

The project brings together Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency in a new collaborative approach which, if successful, will identify landscape opportunities for multi-functional benefits, addressing the priorities of each organisation.

The project, which will run from April 2022 to August 2022, will result in the production of a Vision Plan for the Red River from Tuckingmill to Godrevy, the development of which will include direct consultation with the community, landowners and other stakeholders.

Community workshops will be held as part of the development phase and we encourage you to check here for details of these, plus information on other ways to feed into the initiative.

Cornwall Council would like to thank the Environment Agency for making this project possible.