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Wilder River Churnet delivering benefits for wildlife and people

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is continuing to work with communities and colleagues from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) to deliver an exciting wildlife restoration project in the area.
Autumn has seen work carried out at a number of sites, which should see them storing more water as we head into the wetter months of winter. This will reduce the amount of water entering the River Churnet and alleviate flooding downstream.
Bryony Davison, Project Officer
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

The Wilder River Churnet project began in autumn 2021 and includes both Staffordshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves and SMDC sites. The 15-month project is creating new areas for wildlife which will also improve water quality and protect areas downstream from flash flooding.

Over recent weeks a range of work has been completed, with a raft of further activity set to take place over coming weeks. Highlights include:

  • A new drystone bridge over the Tinsell Brook at Thorswood Nature Reserve, near Stanton. The bridge gives cattle a new crossing point over the stream, so there will no longer be contamination in the watercourse.
  • Two new ponds at Ladderedge Country Park, Leek. This will keep water on site for longer, to help slow the flow into the Churnet River.  To slow the flow of water in the stream alongside the ‘wildlife walk’ the channel has been made to meander slightly to flow less straight and more naturally. Further up in the woodland small timber dams have been installed, which will also hold back the flow of water off site.
  • Large woody debris added to watercourse at Black Brook Nature Reserve, near Leek, to hold back flow of water and reduce flooding downstream. Soil dams also set to be added to ditches to rewet the open area of the site, improving the condition of the peat and creating a chance for the rare globe flower to return to the site.
  • New ponds created at Brough Park and Rod Wood Nature Reserve. Again both of these are to allow the sites to store more water.
A large drystone bridge over a stream with trees behind it

Thorswood drystone bridge by Bryony Davison

A large pond nestled into an area of grass with trees in the distance

New pond at Brough Park by Bryony Davison

A pile of sticks, twigs and branches across a stream in a woodland

Dam at Ladderedge Country Park by Bryony Davison

Project Officer Bryony Davison has overseen the work, which has been completed by volunteers from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and SMDC, SMDC Ranger Mark and contractors where larger machinery was required.

Bryony said: “Autumn has seen work carried out at a number of sites, which should see them storing more water as we head into the wetter months of winter. This will reduce the amount of water entering the River Churnet and alleviate flooding downstream.

“Over coming months further work will be completed. By using natural processes like those listed above we can also improve water quality and restore a diverse habitat, which will also increase biodiversity at these sites.”

Councillor Joe Porter, Cabinet member for Climate Change at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the Wildlife Trust on this project to better manage water flow and create environments which encourage a greater diversity of plant life, invertebrate and aquatic life.

“Taking care of our nature reserves and green spaces has never been more important and it’s great to see these schemes being delivered because they really do make a difference. I look forward to further work being finished over the next few months.”

This project is funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

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