About Discover Eden

Discover Eden was a three year project started in 2005 with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  It was an exciting initiative which brought together three partner organisations - Eden Rivers Trust, East Cumbria Countryside Project and Tullie House Museum - to promote the value of the River Eden through a variety of education and access projects for the local and wider community. 

 
Aims

The aims of Discover Eden were to:

• Improve understanding of the river environment, through activities with schools, community groups and the wider public.
• Improve opportunities for access and recreation on and around the river, through activities such as walking, angling and canoeing.
• Provide opportunities to celebrate the amazing river heritage, through a River Festival and many other river-related events.
• Promote ownership of the River Eden and its surrounds, through educating, engaging and inspiring the local population.
• Encourage land owners and the general public to value and look after their river environment.

Projects

Projects within Discover Eden included:

• Freshwater Life; a permanent exhibition at Tullie House Museum.
• Discover Eden DVD for Secondary schools.
• Ullswater Canoe Trail.
• Wetland Discovery Trail; an education facility for primary schools.
• Canoe access points.
• River Rover; a mobile classroom facility with underwater camera.
• Young persons river programme; involving young people in angling.
• A series of information henges about the Eden.
• A series of 14 circular walks with accompanying guide booklets.
• A book celebrating the unique landscape of the Eden through creative writing.
• Mobile Discover Eden displays.
• Eden Rivers Festival; celebrating water and the amazing river heritage.
• Discover Eden website; where you can find out more about these projects.

Partner Organisations

The partner organisations within Discover Eden were: 

Eden Rivers Trust
East Cumbria Countryside Project
Tullie House Museum

Supporters of the project

We are extremely grateful to the following organisations for their contributions to Discover Eden in terms of materials, staff time or funding:

APEM
Aragon Cycles
Atlantas Marine
Atlantic Salmon Trust
Borderlines
British Canoe Union
Carlisle Angling Association
Carlisle Canoe Club
Carlisle City Council
Carlisle Leisure
Countryside Agency
Cumberland Building Society
Cumbria County Council
Cumbria Business Environment Network
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
Cumbria Tourism
Cumbria Vision
Cumbria Water Vole Project
Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Cumbrian Newspapers Ltd
Dalemain Estate
Eden Community Outdoors
English Heritage
Environment Agency
Freshwater Biological Association
ITV Border
Lake District National Park
Lazonby Parish Council and other Parish Councils throughout the River Eden catchment
MOD Warcop
Natural England
National Trust
North West Gyroplane Club
Penrith Anglers
Plumpton Primary School
REDFA
RSPB
Rural Regeneration Cumbria
Salmon & Trout Association
United Utilities
Voluntary Action Cumbria
Young Farmers Cumbria