In 1985 County Durham pop band Prefab Sprout sung about Moving the River on their highly acclaimed album Steve McQueen. But why are we bringing this up now, and what has it got to do with life in Stoke-on-Trent in 2020? Well, strap yourselves in...

The thought of moving a river seems like a pretty big job. It's not something you can crack on with after watching a couple of episodes of DIY SOS. It sounds like the sort of idea that gets thrown out there when you're four pints deep at the pub (pre-lockdown, obvs)

But here in Stoke-on-Trent we are an ambitious city and we like to think big. We are the World Capital of Ceramics. We gave the world the designer of the Spitfire, the first European Footballer of the year and oatcakes. If we want to move a river, by George we will move a river!

Moving Rivers for Dummies: Page 1. In order to move a river, first of all you need to have a river. *Spoiler alert, the name of our city is a pretty big clue

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the River Trent

The River Trent is the third-longest river in the UK. It has been used as a navigation since the Roman times. It's kind of a big deal in waterways circles. So if you want to uproot and disturb it from its deep slumber, you better have a good reason for it

And the good news is, we do. This concrete, lifeless channel near to @stokecity's old Victoria Ground has been described as the ugliest section of the 185-mile river. And it's pretty hard to disagree. But in the words of the late Stephen Gately, it's time for a new beginning

Work has started on a new 500 metre section that will bypass mean old Mr Concrete before re-joining the current course of the river at the south of the site. This naturalised channel will provide massively improved habitats for wildlife both in the river and on its banks

Back to our friends Prefab Sprout who sung about moving the river "bucket by spoon.” We’re all for keeping tradition and sentiment but thankfully things have moved on a little since 1985. We now have diggers, trucks and other big things to do the job for us. Huzza

When the work is finished the new section will be unrecognisable. The improvements will allow a wide range of wildlife species to return and our residents will be able to enjoy the river their city is named after on a shiny new footpath

So there you have it. From Prefab Sprout to the River Trent and Stoke-on-Trent in nine tweets. Anything is possible. All that's left to do now is kick back and listen to some classic 80s pop music

This is 1/16 environmental enhancement schemes in the European Regional Development Fund #SUNRISE Project http://erdf-sunrise.co.uk  being led by the council & delivered by @StaffsWildlife & partners. The project is working to improve urban green space across the city and Newcastle