NRA Southern 32

National Rive Information 0 THE RIVER DARENT Head Office CONSERVATION PROJECT Class N o ...... Accession No

NRA

National Rivers Authority Southern Region A solution for the Darent Since its formation in 1989 the NRA has been These enhancements are not a solution or an carrying out an investigation into ways of alternative to solving the low flow problem, but overcoming problems of low river flows which occur rather as an activity complementary to the joint in the River Darent. It is acknowledged that NRA/TW UL action plan, preparing the landscape abstraction of underground water for public supply is for the return of the river. at the heart of these difficulties and a joint Opportunities range from new pools and weirs, to NRA/TW UL plan to improve flows was announced screening ugly fencing along public access. in early 1993. The illustrations show a selection of the In short the plan is to close two abstractions, opportunities for improvements in and around the reduce four others, to augment or top up summer river which the NRA wishes to promote. river levels and ensure that less water is wasted through leaks in water pipes. Additional water will be brought in from surface reservoirs using the London The best way forward water ring main. The best way forward is for the NRA to join with the This is planned to happen between 1993 and 1998 existing conservation group, the North West with substantial improvements by 1996. It is expected Countryside Project, which has been operating in the to cost £12 million, shared by NRA and TWUL. area for nine years. As well as returning flows to the Darent the NRA In this way everybody benefits from a has a duty to conserve and enhance the environment collaborative venture - the residents, visitors, the (S. 16 of Water Resources Act 1991). The NRA project group and all the organisations associated commissioned environmental consultant Jeremy with running the group. Purseglove to examine the Darent for opportunities The NRA will fund an additional full-time to improve the river, its banks and adjacent Countryside Officer who will specialise in Darent countryside. catchment duties. This Officer will supervise those Jeremy Purseglove works for Consultants Mott schemes proposed by Jeremy Purseglove and others MacDonald (see panel). already identified by the Project Group. The NRA To do the study Jeremy walked the length of the will also contribute financially and support field river and noted those places suitable for work. This will complement other work being carried enhancements. In his report presented to the NRA in out by the N RA ’s Conservation Section. late 1992 illustrations and photographs were used to Any person or group who would like to help either highlight particular examples with ideas for by volunteering or sponsorship should contact the improving sites. NW KCP Manager at the address on this leaflet.

Biography Jeremy Purseglove is a well-known environmental consultant and conservationist. of In 1988, his book “Taming the Flood” was the basis for a Channel 4 Jeremy television series and won the Sir Peter Kent Conservation prize. Purseglove He has 20 years’ experience of landscape and conservation work and presently works for civil engineering consultants Mott MacDonald (Cambridge). He has carried out several river studies on behalf of the National Rivers Authority, including the in Kent and the Bourne Rivulet and W allop Brook in . He has previously worked for Kent County Council on coastal projects and for Severn Trent Water as Senior Conservation Officer. While at Severn Trent, he pioneered many of the changes to the way land drainage activities are now carried out. These new standards have since become the basis of a change in law which requires the water industry to make environment enhancements as part of any work. E n v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y

NATIONAL LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICE

HEAD OFFICE

Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD

— HWMBIf NRA

National Rivers Authority Southern Region Country s

Regional Office Countryside Project Centre Guildbourne House Chatsworth Road Mead Crescent Worthing West Sussex BN 11 1LD Mead Road (0903)820692 DAI 2SH March 1993 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (0322) 294727

0 9 9 9 0 8 The major fibrous content is mode from Bagosse - sugar cone residue previously burnt os woste to w e u o ^

Examples of Enhancements

WFFEi s o r r o t OPV EC.

ft.Ak|T?Wa feOXES USED ChuccH 'j TD MEfK. OP THE M.ONOTOt'iV OF THE WALL a As the river passes through an ugly concrete m argin could be greatly enhanced by the construction o f planting boxes at intervals along this ACCESS TO THE WEIL stretch. The IS STILL MMWTAlMEt> construction of weirs here has already helped to hold w ater back. EXISTING, CONCtETZ f W E

planting boxes CONSTtUCTEb AT iN1Efl*t-SiMONG THE UlMlWIU. ENHANCE TWE PtEXWTLY U«lY EbCI YET 5T1UL fcETAlN ACfEtt TO THE * J\/E t.

ATTEACTIVE. se c tio n of THE Ri\jE£- WITH ALt££- UNE£> MEANt>EK-S

The land belonging to Park Farm here is IbEKL LOCATION an ideal location for the creation of a pool THE. CKfATlON OF A CCMSEEA/ATTOrJ TOOL on conservation grounds. " • ... £ • Mill today (1992) the river - / * • 1 4 is dry, the factoryi standing empty and the ' ugly concrete bridge.

rbe Darent Valley outpath could be tide far more tractive as it iproacbes ullingstone ( astle moving the path \J planting a vcket of lickthom to screen he existing unsightly security r?nce (above). l imber deflectors can be used to mimic natural rafts of vegetation (left). Pities driven into the river bed can create spits of vegetation that can also form a narrowing of the channel. -pMeei. tons. BEACKET

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-TiMsee-t)EFL£croes g m r omoheusivjely out peor* the BANKS (.THt POLES WUVEN INTO THE tlVEE- 6 E > A0E A KJM OF NAeCOWINkTHE £I\JE£ CHANNEL AND CEEAT7N& M0R£ irJTE^ES^MC. MAe.C,IN£ Va/IT^OUT ApPEAtfiNC, M V FIC IM .

The North West Kent Countryside Project Towards the end of 1992 a partnership including the (NW KCP) was set up in 1984. It is funded by Kent NRA, Kent Thames-side Groundwork Trust, Kent County Council and the four District Councils of Archaeological Rescue Unit, Dartford Borough Gravesham, Dartford, Bexley and . In 1993 Council and schools in the area, was formed with the the NRA joined these partners. intention of restoring the area and opening it to The Countryside Project works closely with the visitors, especially as the runs local community and relies on volunteers, donations through the site. and help in kind to achieve much of its work. Works carried out to date include clearance of The Project objectives are to: invading plants, removal of litter, renovation of the remaining mill structures, bridge repairs and • conserve and enhance the river corridors production of an information leaflet to encourage landscape and wildlife of the area local people to help care for this historic site. • safeguard the interests of agriculture and fo restry • conserve areas of natural history and Pond Creation, Anthony Roper Primary archaeological features School, Eynsford • improve public access to the countryside for informal outdoor recreation The NRA, in partnership with the School, has • increase public knowledge and understanding of designed and excavated a pond in the school grounds the countryside - to engender a sense of adjacent to the River. A survey was carried out to responsibility for our countryside among public establish ground levels in relation to water levels, and landowners alike especially the artificially maintained higher summer • assist economic and regeneration of the area level within this stretch of the Darent, prior to work through environmental improvement and starting at the beginning of the year. management measures outlined above The pond is filled by the river through an inlet • assist the positive enhancement of the channel and has gently sloping sides and varied depth countryside and informal recreation to attract and support a wide range of wildlife. Safety opportunities in the Metropolitan Green Belt was the prime consideration as this pond will become and urban fringes. a valuable educational resource with its care and development now a major part of environmental As part of its commitment to enhance the wildlife, studies at the school. To assist this, the earth removed amenity and educational value of the River Darent, to create the pond has been landscaped into a sitting the NRA has also assisted with a number of area for children. community projects.

Restoration of the Positive support Gunpowder Mills Site, Dartford These projects and those to be initiated by the new Upstream of Brooklands Lake are the remains of an Countryside Officer are seen by the NRA as an eighteenth century gunpowder mill which until opportunity to give positive support to the long term recently were sadly neglected, overgrown and subject enhancement of the Darent Valley through to vandalism. collaborative ventures with the local community. Geology of the River Darent Valley

Section AA

Geology of Southern Region

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