Weston River Restoration

• Reconnection to the floodplain
• Gravel introduction
• Two new islands
• 450 trees along the river to provide cover and stabilise the river bank

Historical drainage and engineering work have had a devastating impact on biodiversity in the river. With nearby fields encroaching, and Stoke-on-Trent upstream of the catchment, a river stripped of natural coping mechanisms, is more vulnerable to pollution

Our work on a 2km stretch of the river undid some of the historical damage. With the help of some heavy machinery, including a 22-ton digger, we gave the river more breathing space and re-introduced natural features.

We re-profiled, introduced a gravel bed, created a backwater for fish, introduced woody debris and created two river islands for birds to settle.

Re-profiling the river banks change the river’s flow around the bend to encourage deposition and more habitat variation on the river bed.

Gravel was introduced to the channel to create riffles, increasing the oxygen levels and developing new habitats for invertebrates and fish spawning.

A backwater was excavated to create a refuge for fish away from the main channel as well as introducing woody debris to help slow the flow and create a wider range of habitats on the river bed.

This is particularly pertinent for this project, as funding came from an Enforcement Undertaking following a serious pollution incident.