River Restoration transforms Fornside Farm stream
Video showing the River Restoration at Fornside Farm, St John’s in the Vale
West Cumbria Rivers Trust (WCRT) has completed a significant restoration project at Fornside Farm, reshaping a 200-metre stretch of stream that flows into St John’s Beck.
The restoration, which has created a new, more natural flowing watercourse and wetland areas, showcases the benefits of working with local landowners to bring rivers back to life and improve the resilience of their farmland.
The stream had been historically straightened, raised, and embanked, leading to several issues for the farm. The channel caused regular flooding and created large areas of boggy grazing ground, requiring constant maintenance to manage the land which increases the landowner’s costs. Furthermore, limited habitat and frequent periods of drought had a detrimental impact on local aquatic species.
In collaboration with Fornside Farm, West Cumbria Rivers Trust created a new, meandering stream and a series of wetlands positioned at the field’s natural low point. The old, straightened channel was filled in and restored as grazing land.
This restored watercourse and wetlands now offer a host of benefits:
Thriving Habitats: The stream and wetlands are rich in new habitats, creating a haven for a range of aquatic and wetland species.
Greater Resilience: The area will be more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and droughts, helping to protect both the environment and the farm.
Improved Grazing: With the old channel filled in, the land is now more productive and better suited for livestock grazing.
The project at Fornside Farm exemplifies the positive impact of river restoration on farmland and wildlife. West Cumbria Rivers Trust is actively seeking more farmers and landowners who are interested in enhancing their land and local environment through similar projects. By partnering with WCRT, landowners can work towards reducing flood risk, improving biodiversity and creating more sustainable agricultural practices.
For more information on how to get involved in river restoration projects, please contact West Cumbria Rivers Trust. View the project video here or view the work West Cumbria Rivers Trust do in St John’s in the Vale here. This work was made possible with support from project partners The Environment Agency, Natural England and United Utilities.