STREAM

(STrategic REstoration And Management of the River Avon SAC).

£1 million has been secured from the European Commission’s LIFE-Nature programme to support river restoration on the internationally protected River Avon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Wiltshire and Hampshire.

STREAM is supported financially by the European Commission’s LIFE-Nature programme. Natural England is working with project participants the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Wessex Water.

The River Avon and its main tributaries are designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and the Avon Valley is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds. Within these sites we will undertake strategic river restoration activities and management to benefit the river habitat including water crowfoot and populations of Atlantic salmon, brook and sea lamprey, bullhead, Desmoulin’s whorl snail, gadwall and Bewick’s swan.

STREAM is carrying out the following:

Restoration of seven kilometres of river on a total of six sites including at Chilhampton on the River Wylye. Survey and monitoring to evaluate how successful the river restoration has been and to identify any problems. Open days on site to enable landowners and local people to learn about the river and see the restoration.

Restoring the River Wylye near Chilhampton

Restoration of the River Wylye near Chilhampton is taking place this autumn. It will help bring back healthy populations of Atlantic salmon, and improve habitat for rare brook lamprey, bullhead, river plants, water voles and otters. Restoration is needed because the River Wylye has been heavily dredged in the past (as recently as 1973), damaging habitat for fish and other wildlife. We now have an opportunity to work with the Wilton Estate to reverse that decline.

The river restoration will involve re-instating parts of the gravel river bed, pinning tree limbs into the river to vary flow, selectively felling and pruning trees, planting riverside shrubs, and fencing the river banks. The tree works will be the most visible aspect of the restoration, as the in-river work will be hidden underwater. The work is planned for late August 2007. A plan showing an outline of the restoration works is given in Appendix 1.

The River Wylye is currently lined by large non-native poplar trees, hidden within which are a number of mature willow and ash trees. The felling of a small number of the poplars, and careful pruning of others to prolong their lives, will create slim gaps in the wall of trees. This will reveal lovely views across the Wylye valley, allow more light into the river (helping vegetation growth), and highlight the fantastic willow and ash trees. Groups of shrubs will also be planted next to the river, reinforcing the typical character of the valley.

When the work is completed at the end of October the restoration site may look a little bare but it will quickly recover. Spring will see an explosion of greenery as the new structures and river banks grow vegetation, and the planted shrubs mature. The river will then be well on the way to being home to wonderful wildlife once again.

Managing Environmental impacts

In order to avoid damaging environmental effects during the restoration work, specific measures are in place to minimise silt release and transport, disturbance to protected species and to ensure use of local materials wherever possible.

The restoration scheme is necessary for the conservation management of the River Avon SAC and the works are to be carried out by the Environment Agency under their permitted development rights. A voluntary Environmental Report has been produced reflecting the details of the scheme and associated environmental issues and mitigation proposals. A copy is available from the STREAM project manager on request.

Public meeting

A talk will be held at 7:30pm on August 6th at South Newton Village Hall to give people a chance to learn about the River Wylye, and to raise any concerns about the restoration work.

Further information

If you would like more information about the restoration and the STREAM project, please contact Jenny Wheeldon on 01380 737023, e-mail jenny.wheeldon@naturalengland.org.uk or visit www.streamlife.org.uk.