The river Nent rises above the village of Nenthead and flows in a northerly direction for approximately 5 miles until it joins the South Tyne at Alston.

It is very much influenced by the areas mining past.

A £6million "clean-up" operation on the second most metal polluted river in England has started in 2020, "to address a harmful legacy of Britain’s industrial revolution." The River Nent has very high concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc, all of which are toxic to fish, and the insects they feed on. One of the most significant sources of pollution is the Haggs adit, an abandoned mine water drainage tunnel at Nentsberry, near Alston. It's thought that around three tonnes of zinc alone, is discharged by the Haggs adit into the river each year.

The effect on water quality and aquatic life can be seen for 60km along the River South Tyne through Cumbria and Northumberland, with the metals ultimately accumulating in the River Tyne estuary sediments. In order to combat the concerning environmental affects, the treatment scheme will be aimed at removing the metals from the mine water before they get into the river.

Here are some of the highlights of our many many visits. More photos in the various chapters.