Case study:Watercress Farm Rewetting Project

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Location: 51° 25' 44.37" N, 2° 42' 12.82" W

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site
Themes	Environmental flows and water resources, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Land use management - agriculture, Social benefits, Water quality
Country	England
Main contact forename	Kate
Main contact surname	Miller
Main contact user ID	User:kate.miller
Contact organisation	Ecosulis
Contact organisation web site	http://ecosulis.co.uk
Partner organisations	Belmont Estate
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

River channel at Belmont Estate

Project summary

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At Watercress Farm, which lies on the very northern edge of the Somerset Levels, Ecosulis worked with Belmont Estate on the creation of a new wetland. The intention was to enable the river to reclaim its former floodplain, creating a new, more sinuous path, which will deliver benefits for both people and nature. The project was designed to trap runoff sediment, pollutants and nutrients, while this degraded former arable field develops into a biodiverse wetland, supporting abundant wildlife.

Our main objectives for the Watercress Wetland creation project were to re-connect the flood plain at the Watercress Farm landholding, maximize the area of semi-permanent and ephemeral water and improve the hydro morphology and biodiversity of the Land Yeo River.

The project was set out to achieve these objectives through creation of a new 400m wetland stream and 1.74hectares of wetland scrapes, blocking existing straight/steep sided ditches, the creation of numerous ephemeral scrapes of varying sizes and shapes, and the creation of numerous areas of permanent water, either within a scrape or as backwater ponds with shallow gradients.

Between June and September 2023, Ecosulis undertook extensive transformative works, focusing on the Land Yeo River channel and its surroundings. The west side of Watercress Wood saw the elevation of water levels in the existing channel, with the creation of four clay and gravel riffle impoundments, diverting flows into a newly designed 400m optimized wetland stream. This stream, boasting various river restoration techniques, now functions as the primary channel, bypassing the re-purposed longitudinal wetland ponds.

Ten wetland scrapes, excavated into arable land on both banks of the wetland stream, offer over 7,800m² of habitat to the Land Yeo River catchment. These features, connected to the wetland stream, adjust water levels based on flow conditions. Gravels extracted on-site were used for bed dressing, bed raising, and gravel riffle installations.

Wetland scrapes upstream of Watercress Wood, both within and outside the floodplain, intercept agricultural runoff, fostering approximately 18,000m² of vital wet meadow habitat. Field ditches have been strategically plugged to maximise marshy wet meadow habitat. Spoil from wetland excavation formed butterfly banks and bunds, enhancing breeding habitat for insects and reptiles across 13,000m².

Land drains were intentionally broken or blocked to retain water on-site, mitigating runoff into the Land Yeo River and neighbouring areas. This comprehensive approach showcases a commitment to environmental restoration, providing diverse habitats while addressing water management and runoff concerns within the catchment.

Monitoring surveys and results

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The site will be monitored by Belmont’s ecology volunteer group and will act as the backdrop to their free, nature-based education programme. We will also be working alongside Belmont to continue to capture and record the impacts of site to showcase effective partnership working, to deliver long-term benefits for the local area and beyond.

During the delivery of the project, we conducted daily reporting and assessments of our works and findings, to ensure we were continuing to align with the project objectives and meeting the requirements to protect and restore local biodiversity. This included ECoWs reports, fuel logs, vehicle and machine checks, a desk -based study and contamination report, alongside daily walk-throughs to identify any potential risks and issues.

Lessons learnt

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Image gallery

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River Restoration channel drone photography

Break through the channel at Belmont Estate

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district Bristol River basin Yeo Subcatchment River name R Land Yeo - conf R Kenn to conf R Severn Estuary Area category 10 - 100 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category Maximum altitude (m) Dominant geology Ecoregion Dominant land cover Intensive agriculture (arable) Waterbody ID Site Edit site Name WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Invasive species present Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) 400400 m <br />0.4 km <br />40,000 cm <br /> Project started 2023/06/05 Works started 2023/09/29 Works completed 2023/09/29 Project completed 2023/09/29 Total cost category Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision ecosulis Nick May Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Aggregate/mineral extraction Hydromorphology Improve the hydro morphology and biodiversity of the Land Yeo River. Maximize the area of semi-permanent and ephemeral water, Re-connect the flood plain at the Watercress Farm landholding. Biology The extension of this biodiverse regional patchwork of nature reserves, ditches, rivers and streams supporting populations of Bittern and Water Vole. The network of scrapes and river bends will soon be rich in plant and animal life, from amphibians to invertebrates, fish to mammals. Physico-chemical Creating new wetland habitats improves our climate resilience and helps to restore the river system by trapping nutrients and pollutants in adjacent scrapes. The new river slows the flow of water, developing a more structured, naturalistic river system, while rewetting adjacent soils, which should improve their carbon storage capacity. Other reasons for the project Extensive farming and industrial draining around the Land Yeo River. And designed to enable the land to act as a functioning flood plain, whilst restoring natural water flow and creating a haven for birds, pollinators and plants Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Specialised equipment, including an excavator with a 360° rotating spade, allowed fine sculpting of naturalistic banks, creating 'bendier' channels that closely mirror the structural diversity of wild rivers. • Ensuring all trenches had a slope of at least 45 degrees, providing escape routes for small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. This design fosters a varied habitat with abundant niches for biodiversity. Floodplain / River corridor A key achievement of the project was the creation of a new river channel, addressing decades of dredging and channelisation that had artificially lowered the river, disrupted its natural flow, and elevated the floodplain. Impoundments within the existing channel raised it to its natural level, fostering a shallower, more structured flow into the newly formed wetland. Planform / Channel pattern Creating a new river channel demanded specialised insight and expert execution. Ecosulis, armed with expertise in wetland creation and river restoration, collaborated with river creation specialists. This collaborative effort ensured cost-effective operations and alignment with natural processes. Other Ecosulis advocated for a modification to the pond's design, incorporating shallow margins to boost biodiversity support. This approach not only mitigated environmental impact but also showcased our commitment to community-centric sustainability. To minimise the impact on surrounding ecosystems, an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) played a pivotal role, overseeing the project, providing ecological advice, and ensuring contractors were well-versed in conservation principles. Works traffic adhered to designated haul road routes, preserving local habitats, while the avoidance of artificial light during the summer months reduced disruptions to nocturnal species. Trenches were thoughtfully designed to offer escape routes for small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Throughout the process, a commitment to preserving trees, hedgerows, and woodland was evident. The Land Yeo River, subjected to past modifications, witnessed careful interventions aimed at preventing damage and pollution spread. Impoundments, longitudinal ponds, and a newly designed wetland stream were strategically introduced, raising the river to its natural level and fostering a more structured flow. The impact on wildlife, from amphibians to birds, bats, dormice, and reptiles, was meticulously assessed and addressed. Precautionary measures were implemented to protect species such as common frogs, badgers, and hazel dormice. Timing of works was adjusted to accommodate nesting bird seasons, with specific measures in place to safeguard ground-nesting birds and their habitats. For invertebrates, including white clawed crayfish, the project aimed to enhance suitable habitats through the creation of pools and ditches. Otters, confirmed on-site, were carefully monitored, and protected, and reptiles, including slow worms, found during surveys, were safely translocated. The creation of butterfly banks and bunds, formed from spoil material, contributed to breeding habitats for insects and reptiles while adding to the project's biodiversity. The commitment extended to broken or blocked land drains, promoting water retention on-site and preventing runoff into the Land Yeo and neighbouring areas. Non-structural measures Management interventions Confined works traffic to designated haul road routes to minimize impact on local habitats and species, • Elimination of temporary artificial light, aligning with the natural working hours during summer/early autumn to reduce nocturnal species disturbance. Social measures (incl. engagement) Education centres have been created onsite by Belmont Estate, to provide opportunities for local school children, businesses and community groups to learn about the project and the aims of the Estate, to deliver benefits for the local area, and gain hands on rewilding experience. Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Watercress Farm rewetting project at the Belmont Estate Breaking Open the New Wetlands at Belmont Estate Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://ecosulis.co.uk/case-studies/river-restoration-on-the-belmont-estate/ Belmont Case Study Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information