When 14 enthusiastic volunteers met near the tunnel that goes under the A14 their first question was ‘where is the river?’
Large stretches were completely covered by vegetation and no water was visible. After several hours of strimming, cutting back and raking as well as removing litter including a large wooden raft and plastic paddling pool the water began to flow freely and the river emerged.
A few days later a family of moorhens were seen on the cleared water along with ruddy darter dragonflies dipping in and out of the water to lay their eggs, which they do after mating. It was pleasing to see how quickly wildlife returns when a small amount of clearning and restoration is undertaken.
The river in this area is wide and deep with silt, it is proposed to narrow as we have done in the Duck Pond using Chestnut stakes, faggots and gravel. The Association has been very fortunate to receive funding from the Octopus Infrastructure Trust (ORIT) to undertake the purchase of materials for this work when Land Drainage Consent has been granted.
