Mayes Brook, Mayesbrook Park, Barking & “Mayesbrook Climate Change Park is a UK first… Improving our green spaces is an important tool to tackle the challenges posed by our changing climate.” Cllr Bert Collins, Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport.

The story so far How has this helped wildlife?

This section of the River Pool was so straight, • The river flow is now more varied and shallow and slow moving, it more closely sediment deposits at the river edges are resembled a pond. Because of its artificially creating a more natural river profile; good AFTER – The river is given new life as it meanders for both plants and invertebrates. wide and straight channel, it was unable to proudly through the Mayesbrook Park grassland • The gravel bed is cleaner and its surface vary its flow as a natural river would. scoured by faster flows, which is Through engaging volunteers in weekly providing extra niches for wildlife. sessions over several years, to help narrow • Thinning dense overshadowing riverbank the banks, remove wooden boards encasing vegetation and removing non-native the river banks and encouraging a wider invasive plants has created a more variety of plants to grow on the riverside, a diverse range of plant species more natural river now exists. How has it helped people? The river was restored by • Local volunteers now have a strong sense • Creating low level structures (berms) in of ownership over the site, and have BEFORE – Metal fencing blocked access to the river the river to narrow it and enable it to developed river management skills – marginalising it to the side of the park flow faster • People using Linear Park can enjoy a • Removing invasive and dominant plants better view of the river to encourage the growth of natural riverside plants • Installing wooden flow deflectors to Partnership organisations enable the river to vary its flow in Thames21, London Borough of Lewisham, different places Environment Agency.

Nearest Station: Upney