Floodplain revival to boosts river wildlife
The clock is turned back for another Northumberland river. Tony Henderson reports.
A waterway has been reconnected to its historic floodplain - which is good news for river wildlife.
Thanks to funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme capital grant scheme, Tyne Rivers Trust has completed the major floodplain restoration scheme on the River Rede in Northumberland.
The scheme is part of the two-year project to tackle the challenges faced by freshwater pearl mussel, salmon and trout.
The work has reconnected 0.6km of the River Rede, a major tributary of the North Tyne.
Two chutes have been created on the banks of the river, and ditch blocking undertaken which has created 10 hectares of wetland, providing a vital resource for wildlife including wading birds, amphibians and invertebrates.
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An in-river boulder feature was also added on the Chesterhope Burn, a tributary of the River Rede, to ease fish passage over a small weir and increase the area of available breeding habitat.
Yve Martin, project manager, said: “Floodplain reconnection on the North Tyne and Rede is essential for the future of our freshwater species including salmon, trout and the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel.
“In high flow events the two chutes will carry water and suspended sediment on to the floodplain. Removing excess sediment and nutrients from the river will ensure gravel beds remain high in oxygen, improving spawning habitat for salmon and trout.”
The culmination of the project was the planting of 250 metres of hedgerow by Tyne Rivers Trust volunteers which will act as a habitat for plants and wildlife, and filter pollutants before they reach the river.
Ginny Swaile, deputy director for Natural England in Northumbria, said: "This impressive floodplain restoration scheme on the River Rede represents a crucial step in protecting our precious freshwater ecosystems.
“By reconnecting the river to its historic floodplain, we are not only creating valuable wetland habitats but also directly supporting the recovery of endangered species including the freshwater pearl mussel.
“Natural England is proud to support this collaborative effort through our Species Recovery Programme, demonstrating how targeted conservation work can deliver significant benefits for both wildlife and local communities."
The Rede project follows the completion of a similar venture to reconnect the Tipalt Burn near Haltwhistle to its floodplain while restoring natural habitat, which was led by Tyne Rivers Trust in partnership with Forestry England, the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water.
The watercourse had been historically straightened and dredged to increase productivity of the surrounding land.
Over the years these modifications depleted water quality and led to the loss of habitat for species including salmon and trout, as well as reducing wetland habitat for breeding waders such as curlew.
Jack Bloomer, chief scientist and technical director at Tyne Rivers Trust said: “We've worked with nature to restore the Tipalt Burn to how it used to be. We have put trees in and reconnected old channels to reconnect the river to its floodplain as well as constructing ponds and wetlands.
“This will mean water will flow out of the site much more slowly reducing flood risk downstream and improving water quality”.