An update from Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers

We’ve passed a major milestone in our planning for the next phase of the Cuttle Brook habitat improvement plans and we have now moved into the implementation phase after nearly two years in the planning. Working under the guidance of River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT), Cuttle Brook Volunteers (CBCV) completed a detailed topographical survey of the bed of the brook during the winter of 2022/3. RTCT took this data and, working with us, put forward improvement proposals for Environment Agency (EA) approval, including thorough flood risk assessment. The process got rather stalled with the EA but, after lots of further input from RTCT, the permit to carry out the planned works was finally received in late August this year, so now it is full steam ahead to get as much done as possible while the river levels allow.

A wide range of works are planned or underway including:

• Overgrowth clearance to allow light into the brook;
• importing and placing up to 30 tonnes of gravel to regulate the gradient of the bed and to provide better habitat for fish and invertebrates;
• Creating natural habitat structures and revetments at places along the brook to protect the banks, improve velocity and mobilise silt that has built up over the years;
• Improvements to one weir to enable fish passage and removal of a second, redundant, weir;
• Creation of a ‘leaky dam’ to better utilise upstream floodplain storage; and
• Digging a scrape to create greater diversity of plants and animals using the floodplain meadows.

The works will take place through a mixture of volunteers and contractors, with professional oversight from RTCT. There will be plenty for volunteers to get their teeth into - no experience required and equipment provided, so please get in touch by emailing ‘[email protected] if you would like to be involved.