River Witham Flood Plain Reconnection and in-channel environmental improvements

The RSC was recently awarded a tender to carry out in-channel habitat restoration, creation and improvement and bank-softening works, within and alongside the River Witham at Stonebridge Close and Sedgwick Meadows, Grantham.

The works have been planned and delivered to facilitate volunteer engagement throughout the project, this has resulted in a number of volunteers being involved in some of the landscaping elements of the project.

Works are primarily environmental in nature and consist of terrestrial and aquatic habitat creation, conservation, and improvement.

The works have been undertaken on behalf of the South Kesteven District funded in part by the the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) via a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant.

The work involves the installation of new berms and deflectors within the channel to soften the banksides and create a more natural habitat. In addition to the softening measures we have introduced a base layer of gravel within the channel across the same river locations. The gravel is hand-installed to minimise disturbance, the gravel will improve the habitat for spawning salmonoid species and white clawed crayfish.

The project will be completed in May 2023 using volunteers to help plant reeds and plug plants within the berms and deflectors.