Habitat creation to benefit fisheries

Habitat creation to benefit fisheries Intense activity over the last six months is drawing to a close and has resulted in the creation of important habitats at the Grange Estate near Willington.

Back channels bringing water from Elstow Brook into woodland are close to completion. Although some minor bank works are still required and volunteers will be asked to carry out some tree clearance next winter, the scale of excavations already demonstrates what a fantastic project this is. Originally expected to dry out in summer, the clay sub-soil is holding water very efficiently, keeping the woodland damp even through the recent dry spell. This will increase its value as a magnet for water-loving wildlife.

At the Bulge, further to the north, works have progressed quickly, aided by the recent dry weather, and are expected to be complete very soon. Staff from the Environment Agency, which contributed £20,000 to these works are delighted at how things have turned out. All these works will create refuges in which fish can spawn and escape peak flows after heavy rain. The Environment Agency recommended that old root bowls excavated after the tree compartment was clear felled should be sunk within the bank and over the water to act as additional shelter and bolt holes for young fish. 

Access to these areas will be limited to some extent but paths will enable everyone to watch these new excavations green up over the coming months and years.

If you would like to get involved in volunteer work at the Grange Estate, there will be opportunities later in the autumn. Funding from the Forestry Commission will pay for a variety of tasks around the site to manage and promote access to the woodland compartments.  These will include thinning tree compartments, installing benches & fencing, and general woodland management.  As the site matures a more diverse range of tasks will be available for volunteers so if you wish to get involved, please contact us soon, sign up for our Commentree mailing list or watch the Forest and River Valley Park web sites

Darren Woodward 01234 762603

darren.woodword@marstonvale.org

www.marstonvale.org/news

www.bedfordrivervalleypark.org