Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The purpose of this study was to:
examine how far local residents have participated in three river restoration projects on the rivers Skerne (Darlington), Cole (Coleshill) and Medway (East Peckham);
analyse how far river restoration is seen as restoring the 'natural' condition by local residents and restoration managers;
contribute to the academic understanding of the contested status of environmental management with particular reference to the theorisation of the 'local' and 'natural';
recommend to river restoration managers ways in which public participation and appreciation of the projects might be enhanced.
Main Topics:

River visiting behaviour - frequency, activities, sections of river duration, likes and dislikes.
Awareness of restoration changes to the river - responsible organisations, aims, costs, when changes made, type of changes.
Evaluation of changes to the river - 'fitting in', attractiveness of sections of river and river after changes, value for money, effect of changes on landscape, safety, wildlife, recreational opportunities and flood risk, achievement of objective of making rivers more 'natural', overall approval of schemes.
Awareness of, participation in, importance of, satisfaction with and improvements to, public consultation on the restoration schemes.
Attitudes towards the environment, restoration managers and river restoration.
Classification data and demographic details.
In addition, qualitative interviews explored the concepts of the 'natural' and natural rivers and the 'local' and 'local ownership' in the context of river restoration.