More about the project

The project centres on the purchase of about 9 acres of rough grazing and woodland along the banks of the Eye Water. The river runs along the north side of the village.

Recently, the river was allowed to carry out serious erosion long about a 300 metre stretch. This was creating a loss of environment, threatening property and the Turley’s access bridge. When teh Eye Water rises (and this river is one of the fastest rising rivers in the country), it really tears into the soft clay soils and causes extreme destruction to the river bank and the bordering woodland.  The two pictures shown tell the story of the harmful effects the river was having on the land.

You might be wondering if this is just a natural thing and if the river is just doing what rivers do. This is a fair question. About 40 years ago, the river was moved to create a better grazing site for the farmer who had the land then. Unfortunately, along its new route the river was able to really start to eat into the surrounding slopes and the area has suffered as a result. What have we done about it?

We have widened and made the river shallower in some points but removing gravel deposits. This allows the river to flow over a wider area of riverside when in flood and stops it hurtling down a narrow channel ripping into the banks along the way. We have also graded of the eroded slopes and planted them up with grass and willow. This should allow teh river to rise and fall without causing as much damage to the banking. We have also put a small stretch of the river back along its original course, hopefuly stoping the further erosion of the steep precipice at the west end of the site. You will also notice that the banking next to the Tuirley’s  bridge has been protected to stop the risk to the bridge, itself.

We have used, where possible, soft engineering solutions like willow spilling (curtains of live woven willow stems secured to slopes and to take hold and grow, fixing the soil and stabilising the banking) and grading of the river banks so they are gently sloping and rounded rather than just edges of exposed top soil.

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