The River Irt in the Stangends area was straightened during the mid 1960’s. This has reduced the quality and quantity of the habitat together with causing water to speed through the reach exacerbating flooding and erosion downstream.
A secondary channel of 125m in length remained reasonably in tact with only a stone bund at the top with soil and scrap infill in places. This enabled West Cumbria Rivers Trust and the National Trust to work with funding from the Environment Agency to restore the channel. The soil and scrap metal was removed from the channel and the stone bund at the upstream end was deconstructed.
Water is now able to flow freely through the channel providing habitat for invertebrates and fish whilst helping to slow the flow of water downstream.
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