HEXHAM’S biggest employer, Egger, has joined a partnership to improve river health.

The Northumberland Rural Diffuse Pollution Prevention Partnership (NRDPP) was launched in 2014 and focuses on improving agricultural practices.

Egger Forestry is now involved in the project, alongside the Environment Agency, Tees Rivers Trust and the Forestry Commission.

Last year, the partnership installed features such as large upstream silt traps and log dams in commercial forestry areas to improve the ecology of the watercourses in Teesside’s River Leven catchment.

The Environment Agency’s environment programme project manager Ian Marshall said: “The NRDPP project has resulted in some excellent interventions over the last few years.

“We are very pleased that Egger Forestry and the Forestry Commission have joined us and the Tees Rivers Trust in partnership on the delivery of silt management in the Leven.

“This is the first time a private forestry firm has funded this type of work in the area and we look forward to seeing the beneficial results for wildlife and water quality in the catchment.”

The project will also see the partnership working with local farmers to improve land management through implementing rainwater harvesting techniques and improving livestock fencing and crossing points to reduce the impact on watercourses.

Egger Forestry’s area harvesting manager Tom Coates added: “Water management in operational forestry has become a major consideration when planning harvesting operations.

“Collaborating successfully with other interested parties on this project has provided us an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding the environment.”