River Till Wetland Restoration Project
The River Till Wetland Restoration Project is an exciting, and pioneering project aiming to work with farmers and land managers to re-connect the River Till with its natural floodplain. The Project aims to demonstrate that there are now real opportunities and financial benefits to restore wetland habitats.
Within the Till Catchment, over 30km of flood defences protect hundreds of hectares of agricultural land. Intensive management and the lack of regular inundation means that the complex and rich wetland habitats associated with the Till Floodplain have been largely lost.
This is a voluntary scheme with absolutely no obligation to become involved. However there are distinct advantages and financial incentives to do so. With the agreement of participating farmers, selected floodbanks in the catchment will be breached, allowing water to regularly flow across the natural floodplain for the first time in over 50 years. Where appropriate a mosaic of wetland habitats will be allowed to develop through a combination of capital works and long term management supported through High Level Stewardship.
Fenton Floodplains is the pilot for the wider project. Funding from SITA will allow 30ha of Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh to be created or restored, along with species rich grassland, wet woodland and seasonal pools
Lead partner
Tweed Forum
Other partners
Northumberland Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Environment Agency, Natural England, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Farmers and Landowners
Action plans that the project helps to deliver
Lowland meadows and pastures
Native woodland
Farmland birds
Fen, marsh and swamp
Rivers and streams
Otter
Water vole
Start date
October 2006
End date
March 2011
Funded by
Environment Agency, Northumberland Regional Flood Defence Committee (Local Levey) and Sita Environmental Trust
Who to contact for further information
Alastair Laverty
Tweed Forum
C/o Northumberland FWAG,
15 Glendale Business Park
Haugh Head
Wooler
Northumberland
NE71 6QP
alastair.laverty@tweedforum.com
Tel: 01668 282121
