Volunteers from WSP UK Ltd were among those who have been planting trees in the Rea Brook catchment area as part of the SVWMS
Volunteers and contractors have planted more than 1,000 trees in the Rea Brook catchment as part of a Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) project.
The species have been specially selected to thrive in different environments ranging from riverbanks, hillsides, and the edge of existing woodlands and the planting is part of the Rea Brook demonstrator project, one of eight in progress through the SVWMS.
The Rea Brook project aims to deliver a suite of nature-based flood management schemes that will demonstrate different measures that can both hold back water and also enhance habitat and biodiversity. It is being delivered by Severn Rivers Trust and is managed by Shropshire Council.
Cecila Young for the Severn Rivers Trust said:-
“We have been planting a varied range of species, each suited to the particular landscape and conditions.
“It’s particularly vital for trees to be allowed to grow alongside rivers, the backbone of the landscape to deliver multiple benefits.
“In these instances we are looking at the natural flood management benefits. Trees planted along rivers and across sloping land can absorb extra water and mitigate flooding, they can intercept heavy rainfall, reducing the speed at which surface runoff reaches the river and the underground networks created by tree roots contribute to higher infiltration rates of soils. Water that is absorbed into the soil recharges aquifers rather than running into rivers and potentially causing floods
“Felled trees and trees that fall naturally into the water course also form a vital component of ‘leaky dams’, and we have already created a number of these across the Rea Brook catchment as part of the SVWMS Demonstrator Programme.”
At Sreetly Field a team of 13 volunteers gave approximately five hours each to plant 562 trees across 0.8 hectares, while at Walton Hall seven volunteers worked for around two hours each to plant 0.25 hectares with 150 trees. In Arscott a contractor planted 420 trees across a 0.5 hectare site.
John Bellis, Shropshire Council’s drainage and flood risk manager, said:-
“The SVWMS Demonstrator Programme is delivering initiatives that will make a real difference to water management in the Upper Severn catchment area.
“It will report its data to inform the wider SVWMS strategy which seeks to develop a holistic approach to water management in the catchment, ensuring resilience for local communities and those further downstream.
“I would like to thank all the volunteers who have given their time, whether it’s through work-based community volunteering or giving up their own free time, to help improve our environment.”
The Rea Brook Demonstrator Project aims to create:
- >150 leaky dams. These hold back water but also enhance habitat for fish by holding gravels, and increasing the diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates in the watercourse.
- 5ha of new native cross slope woodland. Woodland can significantly reduce surface runoff by increasing soil infiltration, and water uptake. They also provide valuable habitat to a wide range of birds and insects. When planted in proximity to rivers, they can provide shading to help control water temperatures for fish and other aquatic creatures. Woodlands also provide valuable carbon sequestration.
- 35ha of multi beneficial wetlands. These can be ponds, scrapes and swales, and can be ephemeral or year-round water holding but with the capacity to hold additional water during rainfall events. These will aim to demonstrate a good variety of styles and locations that would be appropriate to fit into different farm situations to encourage all landowners to think about low use areas of land that could help with water retention. They will also provide valuable habitat for birds, amphibians, insects and macroinvertebrates.
- 4ha of floodplain reconnection works. This will aim to increase the value of the floodplain by enhancing connectivity with the rivers, and may include remeandering, flood channel creation, channel diversion. This would help dissipate flood water over a larger area and thereby reduce peak flood flows.
