A group from the Coventry Society paid a return visit to the Coundon Wedge, courtesy of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. We went to see the Stage Zero restoration project on the North Brook.
On Thursday 8th August a group of thirteen members of the Society joined Joe Atkinson, the River Restoration Officer of the Sherbourne Project, to see the completed project.
The Sherbourne Valley Project aims to reconnect the people of Coventry with the city’s river and restore the river for wildlife.
The Society visited the site in June 2022 to be briefed on the plans for the project and on our return visit we were able to see the completed scheme.
Over the centuries, the North Brook had been re-directed by farmers to go around the edge of fields and this route can be seen half way up the valley side. The project involved redirecting the route of the stream to its paleo-channel, at the bottom of the valley.
On its new (or rather original) route, the stream is able to spread out onto wet land. This not only created a “reservoir of wet land” to stop flooding downstream, but also increases the wildlife diversity of the stream.
In addition, two new bridges have been constructed over the brook, to create attractive walks around the area.
The project also removed a couple of weirs, with the hope that in the long-term fish will be able to return to this stretch of water. The river gravels are regularly sampled to monitor the improvement in wildlife diversity.
The Coventry Society had previously responded to the planning application for the scheme, which we supported.
Joe explained that it is rare to be able to carry out a project such as this, so close to an urban area. The fact that the council owned the land was an advantage in getting things done. The partnership, which also included Severn Trent and the Environment Agency was helpful in bringing things together.
Joe also briefed us on the plans for Lake View Park, which take a more traditional approach to river restoration, with the creation of additional meanders, pools and wetlands.
