RIVER INGOL WETLAND CREATION A partnership to benef t all THE – $UDUHFKDONULYHU Revitalising water quality

The River Ingol is one of only 200 chalk rivers and streams in the world, providing an extremely rare habitat for a diverse group of plants and wildlife. Chalk rivers derive most of their ÁRZIURPFKDONIHGJURXQGZDWHU Anglian Water explored a number Trust to assess the feasibility and 7KH¶FODVVLF·FKDONVWUHDPKDV RIRSWLRQVLQFOXGLQJXVLQJH[SHQVLYH FRQVHTXHQFHVRIVXFKDVFKHPH FKDUDFWHULVWLFVRIDONDOLQHFU\VWDO KLJKFDUERQWUHDWPHQWHTXLSPHQW FOHDUZDWHUZKLFKÁRZVFRQVLVWHQWO\ or pumping the water away for Following a full assessment of the RYHUFKDONRUFOHDQJUDYHOEHGV treatrment elsewhere. SURSRVHGSURMHFW·VYLDELOLW\LQWHUPVRI delivering the required improvements ,QDGGLWLRQWKHFRXUVHRIWKHULYHU +RZHYHUWKH\HYHQWXDOO\GHFLGHGRQ WRWKHZDWHUTXDOLW\LQWKH5LYHU,QJRO UXQVYHU\FORVHWRWKH1RUIRONFRDVW DQDOWHUQDWLYHVROXWLRQWKHFUHDWLRQ DORQJVLGHIXOOEXGJHWDU\DQDO\VLVWKH – an area of international natural RIDQDWXUDOZHWODQGDGMDFHQWWR 5LYHU,QJRO:HWODQG3URMHFWZDVJLYHQ LPSRUWDQFHRZLQJWRWKHKDELWDWV WKH5LYHU,QJROWRQDWXUDOO\ÀOWHU WKHJUHHQOLJKWWRSURFHHG it provides to migrating birds and the water downstream from the EUHHGLQJZDGHUVPDQ\RIWKHP Anglian Water site. When the A true partnership HQGDQJHUHGRUUDUHVSHFLHV7KH SRVVLELOLW\RIDQRQLQYDVLYHZHWODQG mouth of the River Ingol enters the solution to improve water quality The project was entirely funded VHDFORVHWRWKH6QHWWLVKDP563% ZDVUDLVHG$QJOLDQ:DWHUVRXJKW by Anglian Water as part of their 1DWXUH5HVHUYH WKHDVVLVWDQFHRIWKH1RUIRON5LYHUV strategic commitment to improve water quality in affected rivers. All of this makes the quality of water With extensive previous experience ÁRZLQJGRZQWKH5LYHU,QJRORISULPH in the creation of wetland projects, LPSRUWDQFH+RZHYHUVFLHQWLÀF land drainage and environmental The quality of water VWXGLHVE\WKH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\ experts William Morfoot partnered úRZLQJGRZQWKH were showing that water quality in the with the Rivers Trust to Ingol had deteriorated downstream deliver the project for Anglian Water. of the outlet from the Anglian Water 5LYHU,QJRO UHF\FOLQJFHQWUHDW,QJROGLVWKRUSH Following a full project-planning As it meanders through the beautifully scenic process, involving not only Anglian Armed with the data from the Water, Norfolk Rivers Trust and is of prime landscape, the River Ingol might (QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\$QJOLDQ:DWHU William Morfoot, but also local only be 10.4 km in length, but this belies its ZHUHH[WUHPHO\NHHQWREHSURDFWLYH landowner James Wilson, the project LPSRUWDQFH LQGHYHORSLQJDVROXWLRQWRHQKDQFH began in the autumn of 2017 and importance to the wider environment. water quality in the River Ingol. was completed in spring 2018.

2 3 Wetland CREATION 7KH5LYHU,QJRO:HWODQG3URMHFW A natural solution to an unnatural problem 7KHVLWHDW,QJROGLVWKRUSHOHQWLWVHOIWRZDUGVD Q 7KH5LYHU,QJRO:HWODQG SURMHFWVXFKDVWKLV– the area being low lying and wet 3URMHFWFRPSULVHVIRXUµFHOOV¶ – already, and set in a valley bottom, making it unsuitable which are essentially ponds. for arable crop production. The woodland present on Q (DFKFHOOLVSODQWHGXSZLWK the proposed site had also been badly affected by ash DTXDWLFSODQWV– carefully selected dieback fungal disease, and by Norfolk Rivers Trust – which many of the remaining trees grow within the wetland. within it were infected. Q 7KHVHOHFWHGSODQWVDUHQDWLYH WRWKHGHOLFDWHFKDONVWUHDP YDOOH\LQZKLFKWKH\JURZ– these include iris, sedges, rushes, marsh marigold and watercress. Q 7KHZDWHUIURPWKH$QJOLDQ :DWHU5HF\FOLQJ&HQWUHIORZV LQWRWKHZHWODQG]RQH – via a newly installed pipe, connecting the treatment plant directly to the wetland. 7KHFUHDWLRQRIDZHWODQGWRùOWHU and improve water quality is not new Q 7KHZDWHUWKHQGLVFKDUJHV WKLQNLQJEXWLWUHSUHVHQWVDWUXO\ LQWRWKHZHWODQG²ÁRZLQJWKURXJK innovative solution to the problems IDFHGE\WKH5LYHU,QJRO each cell in turn. Q 7KHZDWHULVVORZO\ILOWHUHG Wetlands are used all over the world by the plants, which remove as a natural way of treating and HQKDQFLQJZDWHUTXDOLW\DQG:LOOLDP undesirable properties – in this Morfoot has been involved in land case, phosphate and ammonia – GUDLQDJHDQGZHWODQGSURMHFWVLQWKH UK for over 50 years. IURPWKHZDWHUDVWKHZDWHUÁRZV through each cell. 7KHSULQFLSDOLVDOVRYHU\VLPSOH Q By the time the water exits DQHQWLUHVLWHLVVHWXSVRWKDWWKH SRRUTXDOLW\ZDWHUGUDLQVWKURXJK WKHILQDOFHOOWKHZDWHUTXDOLW\ DVHTXHQFHRIQDWXUDOO\SODQWHG LVGUDPDWLFDOO\LPSURYHG – it can SRROVZKLFKVXFFHVVLYHO\ÀOWHURXW 7KHFUHDWLRQRIDZHWODQG WKHQÁRZIURPWKLVFHOOGLUHFWO\EDFN the undesirable elements within the ZDWHU2QFHWKHSURFHVVLVFRPSOHWHG WRùOWHUDQGLPSURYHZDWHUTXDOLW\ into the River Ingol. WKH¶FOHDQHG·ZDWHUWKHQÁRZVRXW IURPWKHÀQDOSRRODQGFRQWLQXHV UHSUHVHQWVDWUXO\LQQRYDWLYHVROXWLRQ LWVMRXUQH\

4 5 The project was delivered in four Q The edges of each cell were distinct, but connected phases: carefully created with gradually Delivering VORSHGEDQNVLQFOXGLQJVLJQLÀFDQW Phase 1 – Site/tree clearance YDULDWLRQVLQWKHDOLJQPHQWVSHFLÀFDOO\ WRFRQVWUXFWDQLGHDOKDELWDWIRUELUGV Q Despite the ravages of ash and other wildlife to live and thrive. diebackWKHLQLWLDOZRUNVLQYROYHG THE PROJECT IHOOLQJWKHWUHHVRQVLWHDQGFOHDULQJ Phase 1 Phase 4 – Pipework WKHVLWHRIRWKHUREVWDFOHV connection Getting the timing right in challenging conditions Q Trees needed to be felled and transported out from within the Q 7KHùQDOSKDVH saw the wetland site – no easy task given the LQVWDOODWLRQRIDQHZIHHGWRSLSH nature of the saturated soils at that the water supply from the Anglian Although funded by Anglian Water time of year! :DWHUUHF\FOLQJSODQWLQWRWKHQHZ WKHSURMHFWZDVPDQDJHGE\ River Ingol wetland. 1RUIRON5LYHUV7UXVWDQGGHOLYHUHGE\ Phase 2 – River diversion Q A new spillway was also installed :LOOLDP0RUIRRW²ZRUNLQJWRDVWULFW DWWKHLQOHWWRWKHZHWODQGWRSUHYHQW timetable – to ensure that the required Q In order to ensure that the erosion to the banks and to disperse SODQWLQJFRXOGWDNHSODFHDWWKHULJKW Phase 2 project deliveredWKHQHFHVVDU\ DQGVORZWKHÁRZRIZDWHUDVLW WLPHRI\HDUVRHQDEOLQJWKHFUXFLDO LPSURYHPHQWVLQZDWHUTXDOLW\ HQWHUHGLQWRWKHFHOOV plants to be in the wetland in time WKURXJKWKHFHOOV\VWHPWKH5LYHU,QJRO Q This feed had to be installed to thrive in the spring. ZDVUHTXLUHGWRKDYHLWVFRXUVHDOWHUHG over the top of the River Ingol. Q The new line of the river was Q Each cell was then $OWKRXJKWKHVFLHQFHDQGWKLQNLQJ positioned away from the site of the interconnected by large diameter EHKLQGWKHSURMHFWZDVERWKYLDEOH new wetland – providing segregation SLSHV²ZLWKHDFKSLSHFDUHIXOO\VHW DQGVRXQGLWUHTXLUHGDQHQRUPRXV EHWZHHQWKHZDWHUFRXUVHDQGWKH DWH[DFWO\WKHUHTXLUHGOHYHOWRFRQWURO DPRXQWRIZRUNHQHUJ\DQGVNLOOWR lower quality water entering the wetland. ZDWHUKHLJKWVDQGÁRZ deliver the solution: Q The William Morfoot Team then FDUHIXOO\FUDIWHGWKLVQHZOLQHIRUWKH Phase 3 Q Specialist plant and machinery ULYHUWRIROORZFUHDWLQJQDWXUDOFXUYHV IURP:LOOLDP0RUIRRW¶VúHHWZDV DQGPHDQGHUVWRPLPLFDQDWXUDOO\ required, including the use of ultra- RFFXUULQJULYHUDQGWRHQKDQFHWKH low ground pressure equipment, habitat available to wildlife who would designed for use on saturated land. make this their home.

Q An experienced, highly-skilled Phase 3 – Cell creation team worked in waterlogged conditions where the cells were to be built. Q The creation of the four cells was DPDMRUHDUWKZRUNVSURMHFWUHTXLULQJ Q ,QDGGLWLRQGLIùFXOWDQGKLJKO\ DVLJQLÀFDQWOHYHORIFXWRXWVSRLOIURP variable soil types made for within the proposed areas where the challenging working conditions. FHOOVZHUHEHLQJEXLOW Q This mammoth digging exercise Q William Morfoot’s GPS surveying ZDVFRQGXFWHGWKURXJKRXWWKH equipment and specialist wetland KLJKO\FKDOOHQJLQJZHDWKHUFRQGLWLRQV software was used to survey and FDXVHGE\WKHH[FHSWLRQDOO\ZHW adjust the design of the site, as it FRQGLWLRQVRIZLQWHU took shape and developed. Q GPS technology was usedWRFXW WKHFHOOVWRYHU\SUHFLVHOHYHOV²WR FUHDWHWKHFRUUHFWUDWHRIZDWHUÁRZLQJ Phase 4 VORZO\WKURXJKWKHFHOOV

6 7 %HQHÀWVFOR ALL Community experience and opportunity

A real-life example of how GHYHORSLQJQHZZHWODQG KDELWDWVFDQERWKLPSURYH ZDWHUPDQDJHPHQWDQGGHOLYHU DKLJKELRGLYHUVLW\LPSDFW

IDFLOLW\GHPRQVWUDWLQJDUHDOOLIH example of how developing new ZHWODQGKDELWDWVFDQERWKLPSURYH water management and deliver a high ELRGLYHUVLW\LPSDFW

All stakeholders in this innovative 1RUIRON5LYHUV7UXVWKDVDOVREHHQ project are keen that it should not LQWURGXFLQJVWXGHQWVIURPWKH8($ MXVWEHRIEHQHÀWWRWKHZLOGOLIHZKLFK DQGRWKHUKLJKHUHGXFDWLRQIDFLOLWLHV LQKDELWWKHULYHUDQGWKHQHZZHWODQG to the site – to learn more about what but that it also provides a wider is being done. EHQHÀWWRWKHORFDOFRPPXQLW\ ,QDGGLWLRQLWZDVDOZD\VLQWHQGHG 7KHVLWHRIWKHQHZZHWODQGLVDGMDFHQW that the site should be utilised as a WRDIRRWSDWKZKLFKLVUHJXODUO\ ÁDJVKLSSURMHFWWRSURPRWHWKHLGHD XVHGE\ORFDOVDQGYLVLWRUVWRWKH RIZHWODQGFRQVWUXFWLRQDVDQDWXUDO area. The footpath provides an ideal method of improving water for use in RSSRUWXQLW\IRUPHPEHUVRIWKHSXEOLF RWKHUSURMHFWVDURXQG1RUIRON1RUIRON WRH[SHULHQFHWKHVLJKWVDQGVRXQGVRI 5LYHUV7UXVWLVFRQVWDQWO\PRQLWRULQJ WKLVVSHFLDOSODFHIRUWKHPVHOYHV WKHZDWHUTXDOLW\DWWKH5LYHU,QJROVLWH VRWKDWWKHDFKLHYHGOHYHOVRIZDWHU 7KHÀQLVKHGSURMHFWLVSURYLQJDYHU\ TXDOLW\FDQEHXVHGDVDFDVHVWXG\ KHOSIXOWRRODVDOHDUQLQJUHVHDUFK H[DPSOHIRURWKHUSURVSHFWLYHVLWHV

8 9

We want this type Improving of scheme to become ‘‘ more commonplace WATER QUALITY as a water treatment Partnership and commitment ‘‘option in the future. 5HJDQ+DUULV$QJOLDQ:DWHUSOF

7KHIDFWWKDWWKLVSURMHFWZDVHYHQFRQWHPSODWHG, let alone planned, funded, commissioned and delivered, is a testament to the commitment that all parties made wholeheartedly to the project.

´:LWKFRPSURPLVHDQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJ Regan Harris, from Anglian Water E\DOOSDUWLHVZHQRZKDYHDIDQWDVWLF plc, comments: “This is a really alternative solution that will H[FLWLQJSURMHFWWREHLQYROYHGLQ GHOLYHUPXFKZLGHUHQYLURQPHQWDO DQGDÀUVWIRUDQ\ZDWHUFRPSDQ\ EHQHÀWVWKDQWUDGLWLRQDOWUHDWPHQW in . Wetland treatment sites The Environment Agency’s roleLQ WHFKQRORJLHV,W·VDQRXWFRPHWKDW Anglian Water is committed VXFKDVWKLVHQDEOHXVWRWUHDWXVHG WKLVFRQWH[WLVWRPRQLWRUDQGDVVHVV many of us have been aspiring to to improving water quality water to the same high standards ZDWHUTXDOLW\DWVWUDWHJLFORFDWLRQVLQ deliver for some time. throughout its operating network. DVRXUFRQYHQWLRQDOVLWHVZKLOH ZDWHUFRXUVHVWKURXJKRXWWKH8. )ROORZLQJWKHVXFFHVVIXOFRPSOHWLRQ YDVWO\UHGXFLQJRXUFDUERQIRRWSULQW “I hope that all the work we have done RIDIHDVLELOLW\VWXG\E\1RUIRON5LYHUV FRVWVDQGPRVWLPSRUWDQWO\ ,ILVVXHVDUHGHWHFWHGWKH(QYLURQPHQW WRGHOLYHUWKH5LYHU,QJRO:HWODQG 7UXVWWKHFRPSDQ\HPEUDFHGWKH HQKDQFLQJWKHORFDOHQYLURQPHQW

$JHQF\LVFRPPLWWHGWRDFROODERUDWLYH DQGWKHHYLGHQFHZHDUHJDWKHULQJWR SRVVLELOLW\RIXVLQJDQDWXUDOÀOWUDWLRQ DQGHFRV\VWHPV DSSURDFKZRUNLQJZLWKWKHRWKHU demonstrate the wider environmental solution for its site – provided by the stakeholders to return water quality RXWFRPHVZLOOJLYHFRQÀGHQFHWKDW FRQVWUXFWLRQRIDZHWODQG²DQGFKRVH ´&KHPLFDOVOLNHSKRVSKDWHVDQG WRDFFHSWDEOHOHYHOV VLPLODUVROXWLRQVFDQEHGHOLYHUHGLQ WRIXQGWKH5LYHU,QJRO:HWODQG3URMHFW DPPRQLDFRPHIURPXUEDQLVDWLRQ RWKHUVXLWDEOHORFDWLRQVµ GRPHVWLFSURGXFWVOLNHGHWHUJHQWVDV

)ROORZLQJWKHGLVFRYHU\RILQFUHDVHG well as from human and animal waste. OHYHOVRISKRVSKDWHDQGDPPRQLD :HQHHGWRÀQGPRUHQDWXUDOZD\VWR LQWKH5LYHU,QJROWKH(QYLURQPHQW treat them rather than adding more $JHQF\KDVZRUNHGZLWK$QJOLDQ DQGPRUHFKHPLFDOVLQRXUWUHDWPHQW :DWHU1RUIRON5LYHUV7UXVWDQG SURFHVVHVZKLFKLVXQVXVWDLQDEOH6R :LOOLDP0RUIRRWWRSOD\DNH\UROH Without the cooperation, ‘‘ the wetland is a great solution. LQWKLVSURMHFWIURPVWDUWWRÀQLVK understanding and pragmatic approach ´,W·VH[FHOOHQWIRUELRGLYHUVLW\DQG Steve Hopper, Environment Planning GRHVWKLVMREIRUXVQDWXUDOO\:HZDQW Specialist at the Environment of the Environment Agency, WKLVW\SHRIVFKHPHWREHFRPHPRUH Agency, elaborates: ´7RVXFFHVVIXOO\ FRPPRQSODFHDVDZDWHUWUHDWPHQW deliver the River Ingol Wetland as a we would never have been able to RSWLRQLQWKHIXWXUHDVLW·VDQH[FHOOHQW WUHDWPHQWRSWLRQQHHGHGDOOSDUWLHV H[DPSOHRIKRZE\ZRUNLQJWRJHWKHU LQYROYHGWRFKDQJHWKHLUHVWDEOLVKHG complete this groundbreaking system. ZHFDQSURYLGHLQQRYDWLYHVROXWLRQVIRU thinking around environmental ‘‘ RXUWUHDWPHQWSURFHVVHVHQVXUHWKH\ improvement and the frameworks for 'U-RQDK7RVQH\2SHUDWLRQV'LUHFWRU are sustainable for future generations SHUPLWWLQJZDVWHZDWHUGLVFKDUJHV 1RUIRON5LYHUV7UXVW DQGSURWHFWWKHHQYLURQPHQWµ

10 11 T ese wetlands give us a fantastic opportunity to research many ‘‘ 1RUIRON RIVERS TRUST aspects of water, soil and environmental change af ecting our use Aquatic conservation and restoration of water and river ecosystems. 'DYLG'LJJHQV&(21RUIRON5LYHUV7UXVW

The Norfolk Rivers Trust (NRT) Q From the NRT’s perspective, ZDVHVWDEOLVKHGLQZLWKWKH WKHGXDOEHQHùWSURYLGHGPDGHWKLV ‘‘ REMHFWLYHRIFRQVHUYLQJDQGUHVWRULQJ project particularly stand out: 1RUIRONULYHUVDQGZHWODQGKDELWDWV² E\HQKDQFLQJWKHYDOXHRIWKHDTXDWLF 1. 7RHQKDQFHWKHZDWHUTXDOLW\ ODQGVFDSHWKURXJKHQFRXUDJLQJ of water exiting the Anglian Water QDWXUDOSURFHVVHV UHF\FOLQJZRUNVWRPHHW(QYLURQPHQW $JHQF\VWDQGDUGVFUHDWLQJLPSURYHG 7KH157·VYLVLRQLVWRHQVXUHWKDWWKH ZDWHUTXDOLW\ÁRZLQJGRZQWKHFRXUVH quality of water provides the best RIWKH5LYHU,QJROWKXVVDIHJXDUGLQJ KDELWDWWREHQHÀWWKHSHRSOHDQG WKHXQLTXHHFRV\VWHPVZKLFKH[LVW wildlife that live within and around it. DURXQGUDUHFKDONVWUHDPV

7KH157DFKLHYHVWKLVE\JLYLQJ 2. 7RGHYHORSDQGFUHDWHDEUDQG DGYLFHDQGZRUNLQJLQSDUWQHUVKLS QHZZHWODQGKDELWDWLQDFRUQHURI with a wide range of government 1RUIRONZKLFKDOUHDG\KDVLQWHUQDWLRQDO DQGQRQJRYHUQPHQWERGLHVDQG VLJQLÀFDQFHIRUUDUHELUGVEXWLVDOVR FROODERUDWLQJZLWKIDUPHUVODQGRZQHUV RIJUHDWLPSRUWDQFHEHFDXVHRIWKH DQGWKHSXEOLFWKURXJKLWVWHDPRI QDWLYHVSHFLHVZKLFKJURZLQWKHUDUH LQGHSHQGHQWH[SHULHQFHGHFRORJLVWV DQGKLJKO\LPSRUWDQWFKDONVXEVWUDWH DQGRWKHUVSHFLDOLVWDGYLVRUV David Diggens, CEO of Norfolk Q The NRT are involved in the Rivers Trust, commented: “We are management and improvement of delighted with the delivery and river systems and watercourses FRRSHUDWLRQRIDOOWKRVHLQYROYHGLQ throughout Norfolk. this pioneering innovative nature HQKDQFLQJSURMHFW Q Previous projects have involved reviving choked and forgotten river “We have already witnessed the systems, as well as revitalising SRVLWLYHFKDQJHLQVSHFLHVDQGNQRZ highly important chalk rivers and that water quality improvements streams, such as the River Ingol. ZLOOIROORZµ

Q The River Ingol Wetland Project presented the NRT with a great opportunity to utilise its vast knowledge and expertise in watercourse management and river conservation.

12 13 The SCIENCE $ODQGRZQHU·V

A natural solution PERSPECTIVE 6FLHQFHLVDWWKHYHU\ Asset enhancement through nature KHDUWRIWKH5LYHU,QJRO

:HWODQG3URMHFWit was James Wilson is the owner of the WKHVFLHQWLÀFDQDO\VLVRI land at IngoldisthorpeZKHUH the Environment Agency, the new wetland site has been built. +LVLQYROYHPHQWLQWKH5LYHU,QJRO which revealed the rising :HWODQG3URMHFWZDVSLYRWDOLQDOORZLQJ levels of harmful properties LWWRSURFHHG

in the water downstream Q $FFHSWDQFHWKDWWKHDVKGLHEDFN of the Anglian Water GLVHDVHKDGLQIHFWHGDORWRIWKHWUHHV recycling site, that brought within the wetland site – meaning that UHJHQHUDWLRQDWOHDVWRQVRPHOHYHO about its creation. was inevitable.

Chemicals such as phosphates having the added advantage of water being returned to the River Ingol; and ammonia come from rising JHQHUDWLQJZLGHVSUHDGEHQHÀWVWRWKH MXVWRQHPLOOLJUDPRIDPPRQLDSHUOLWUH urbanisation²IURPGRPHVWLF ORFDOHFRV\VWHP in addition to a phosphorus limit of 4.5 SURGXFWVOLNHGHWHUJHQWVDVZHOODV milligrams per litre. Early signs are that I feel that this from human and animal waste – and 7KH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\KDYHVHW these standards are more than being are two of the most detrimental tough standards for the quality of the met by the new River Ingol Wetland. plot of land is VXEVWDQFHVDIIHFWLQJZDWHUTXDOLW\ making a highly +RZHYHULWLVDQDJHROGQDWXUDO VROXWLRQZKLFKLVGHOLYHULQJWKH positive contribution PDVVLYHFKDQJHLQWKHVFLHQWLÀFUHVXOWV FROOHFWHGE\WKH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\ to addressing ‘‘ DWWKHVLWH²WKHXVHRIUHHGEHGV ‘‘ sedges and other planting solutions some of today’s Q Enthusiasm for the development of ´+RZHYHURQFHWKHSURMHFWZDV LVQRWDQHZGHYHORSPHQWWKH\DUHLQ nature and biodiversity alongside the XQGHUZD\,FRXOGVHHIURPWKH use at many sites around the globe. environmental ULYHUDQGDVWURQJGHVLUHWRVHHWKH SURIHVVLRQDOPDQQHURIVWDIIIURPERWK LGHDVDQGYLVLRQRIWKH1RUIRON5LYHUV :LOOLDP0RUIRRWDQGWKH1RUIRON5LYHUV 7KHSODQWVFKRVHQE\WKH1RUIRON dif culties. Trust turned into a reality. 7UXVWWKDWWKHRXWFRPHZRXOGEHRID Rivers Trust to grow in the wetland very high standard. DEVRUEWKHSKRVSKDWHDQGDPPRQLD -DPHV:LOVRQODQGRZQHU -DPHVLVGHOLJKWHGZLWKWKHVXFFHVV FOHDQVLQJWKHZDWHUDVWKH\GRVR (River Ingol Wetland site) RIWKHSURMHFW´:KHQWKH1RUIRON ´$VDQDOWHUQDWLYHODQGXVHLWKDV 7KLVVLPSOH\HWHIIHFWLYHQDWXUDO 5LYHUV7UXVWDSSURDFKHGPHZLWK HQKDQFHGP\ODQGKROGLQJDQGFUHDWHG SURFHVVLVPXFKFKHDSHUWKDQ WKHSURSRVDOIRUWKHZHWODQG,PXVW DEHDXWLIXODVVHWWKDWLVQRWRQO\ removing ammonia and phosphates DGPLWWKDW,ZDVDOLWWOHVNHSWLFDOµ EHQHÀFLDOWRQDWXUHEXWDOVRWRWKH WKURXJKDUWLÀFLDOPHDQVZKLOHDOVR KHFRPPHQWHG ORFDOFRPPXQLW\µ

14 15 Just weeks after the The site has been 3URMHFW RESULTS completion, the plants transformed from a Biodiversity at its best have already taken dying woodland into great steps forwards in something which is growth – basking in the unquestionably beautiful, sunshine and warm spring fully complimenting the temperatures. Insects and stunning countryside of $OWKRXJKRQO\FRPSOHWHG other invertebrates are which it is now part. LQVSULQJWKHHDUO\ buzzing all around the cell VLJQVDUHWKDWWKHSURMHFW perimeters and within the ponds too, on the fast- The breathtaking views ZLOOEHDJUHDWVXFFHVV growing plants and reeds.

 around the site have been enjoyed by scores of schoolchildren, students and members of the public who have an interest in the 

natural world. The newly-cut river channelQRZÁRZVZLWK

 crystal clear waters, and the new river banks are

steadily developing new life thanks to the clever planting work carried out The sounds of a diverse array of by the Norfolk Rivers Trust.  birds now greet visitors arriving at the site at any time of the day.

 :DWHUKDVúRZHG There have been a number constantly from the RIKLJKSURùOHYLVLWV to Anglian Water recycling WKHVLWHZLWKVLJQLÀFDQW ,WLVKRSHGWKDWWKHFHOOV facility and through the interest from other water ZLOOSURYLGHWKHSHUIHFW :DWHUKDVùOOHGWKHSRROV four cells – with the water authorities and like-minded KDELWDWLQWHUPVRIERWK quickly; encouraging birds and quality already being organisations looking to IHHGLQJDQGEUHHGLQJIRU local wildlife to start feeding in recorded as being of vastly replicate this kind of project DEURDGPL[RIZLOGOLIH the shallow waters from day one. improved quality. within their own areas. IRUPDQ\\HDUVWRFRPH

16 17 7KH5LYHU,QJRO:HWODQG3URMHFW 3URMHFW LEGACY is, literally, living proof that private, A beacon for others public and third sector organisations can collaborate successfully for the EHQHÀWRIWKHQDWXUDOHQYLURQPHQW in this case:

Q $QJOLDQ:DWHU – Privately-owned utility company Q 1RUIRON5LYHUV7UXVW – Charitable NGO Q (QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\ – Government agency Perhaps the greatest legacy of the Q :LOOLDP0RUIRRW River Ingol Wetland Project is that its VXFFHVVSURYLGHVRQHRIWKHVWURQJHVW – Privately-owned land drainage examples in the UK of how water and wetland specialist TXDOLW\FDQEHLPSURYHGWKURXJKWKH use of a natural wetland. In addition, the River Ingol Wetland 7KHFRQWLQXLQJSUHVVXUHRIKRXVLQJ Project collaboration involved population growth means that there DUHHYHULQFUHDVLQJGHPDQGVEHLQJ VLJQLÀFDQWFRQWULEXWLRQVIURP PDGHRQZDWHUUHF\FOLQJIDFLOLWLHVLQ the UK. A number of other similar sites Q ,QJROGLVWKRUSH3ULPDU\6FKRRO KDYHDOUHDG\EHHQLGHQWLÀHGZKLFK – Local community IDFHVLPLODULVVXHVWRWKRVHIRXQGDW Q WKH5LYHU,QJRO7KHVXFFHVVRIWKH -DPHV:LOVRQ 5LYHU,QJROSURMHFWSDYHVWKHZD\ – Local landowner IRURWKHUVLPLODUSURMHFWVWRKDSSHQ elsewhere in the UK.

7KHSURMHFWDOVRGHPRQVWUDWHVWKH to provide habitats to support rare and FOHDUQHHGIRUFROODERUDWLRQEHWZHHQ SURWHFWHGVSHFLHVRIELUGVDQGZLOGOLIH DPXOWLWXGHRIRUJDQLVDWLRQV²DQG ²HVSHFLDOO\LQSODFHVZKLFKDUHDOUHDG\ XOWLPDWHO\KRZDFRPSOH[DQG regarded as being of international GHPDQGLQJSURMHFWLVSRVVLEOHZKHQ LPSRUWDQFHVXFKDV1RUWK1RUIRON VXFKRUJDQLVDWLRQVZRUNWRJHWKHU WRZDUGVDFRPPRQREMHFWLYH What is unquestionable is that the River Ingol wetland has surpassed 6RFLHW\DVDZKROHLVEHFRPLQJPRUH 2QHRIWKHVWURQJHVWH[DPSOHV expectations in terms of water aware of the need for environmental quality and, crucially, has delivered a REOLJDWLRQVWREHPHWUHVXOWLQJLQD LQWKH8.RIKRZZDWHUTXDOLW\ spectacular natural environment in greater understanding about the need FDQEHLPSURYHGWKURXJKWKH which wildlife can thrive – one that WRSURWHFWDQGORRNDIWHUSUHFLRXV future generations can continue to KDELWDWV7KHUHLVDULVLQJH[SHFWDWLRQ XVHRIDQDWXUDOZHWODQG enjoy for many years to come.

18 19 Get in TOUCH…

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Norfolk Rivers Trust %%D\ÀHOG%UHFNV %D\ÀHOG+ROW1RUIRON15'= +44 (0)1263 711299 norfolkriverstrust.org

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