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Low Stock Bridge Fencing & Wooded Debris Habitat Provision Project

Derwent Catchment

This project was chosen since this section of the River Derwent was prone to excessive bank erosion, the primary cause of damaging siltation of the river bed. Bank erosion also adds to the nutrient status of both the River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake.

To reduce the excessive erosion of the banks, several techniques were deployed, namely the:-

• coppicing of bank side trees and securing them into the river bank and associated bed - protect banking, catch sediment and in the case of willow, become a living barrier to protect from future flood flows
• transplanting of local phalaris reeds into the toe of the river banking - stable toe reduces bank erosion
• coppicing of ‘in-river’ willow - to prevent flood flows being deflected into river banking
• planting of goat willow stakes - to grow and provide a living barrier to protect the bankings
• fencing off of river banking - allows marginal vegetation to grow and protect the banking

In addition, all these activities have the significant advantage of increasing wooded debris and habitat (cover) which helps increase fish densities.

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