About the Living Heritage of the River Don (LHRD)

Through a three year programme of capital works and engagement activities Don Catchment Rivers Trust have achieved their four objectives for the LHRD project:

Supporting the return of salmon to the River Don

Fish passes have been built on 5 weirs in Sheffield – Brightside, Norfolk Bridge, Lady’s Bridge, Kelham Island and Steelbank, reconnecting 6.5km of the Don and opening up 10km of spawning grounds to migratory fish for the first time in 200 years. Atlantic salmon sightings are now beginning to be reported in previously impassable areas of the river Don.

Inspire and mobilise local communities

1177 pupils have taken part in the River Guardians programme and 50 young people volunteered on riverside youth art projects. Over 300 volunteers have helped to improve and protect the rivers on their doorstep, some of which have gone on to lead their own volunteer days and form the friends of ‘The Don Valley Way’.

Develop skills for heritage and capacity

DCRT have trained two apprentices in Environmental Conservation and 184 volunteers have been trained in heritage skills, including licensed equipment training.

To help foster understanding of heritage and change perceptions about the River Don

To do this a long distance trail ‘The Don Valley Way’ from Doncaster to Sheffield has been created. Audio trails and information boards encourage those walking the trail to learn about and enjoy the river Don’s heritage. Community discovery events and guided walks and talks also improved access to the river.

Voices of the Don ~ a collection of personal insights about the river Don

In 2018 I was commissioned by DCRT to produce a book to mark the end of this project. The memento I designed is a hard backed collection of stories, poems, photographs and illustrations from people with a strong connection to the river Don.

The hard backed book is beautifully crafted with a water theme and illustrations by Sophie Carter running through the 60 pages. it is split into two sections; “The Shallows” and “The Depths” to reflect the turbulent history of the river.

To download a digital copy of the book – please click here