RRC “Not Far From Nottingham” Project for . Increased urban biodiversity . Education . Community engagement Trout as an icon . Represents pristine rivers . Incongruous in towns and cities? Biological . Pollution intolerant . Requires varied and well connected habitat . Needs riparian and aquatic floral and faunal diversity Trout as an icon . Represents pristine rivers . Incongruous in towns and cities? Biological . Pollution intolerant . Requires varied and well connected habitat . Needs riparian and aquatic floral and faunal diversity Nearby Groups . Existing Angling Club (DNMAC) . Existing Community Group (REF) . Custom made Community Group (SPRITE)
All affiliated and receive support
River Goyt LWD introductions River Goyt LWD introductions River Goyt LWD introductions River Goyt LWD introductions Don . Trash clearance . Balsam bashes . Supportive planting . Riverfly monitoring . Fishery monitoring
TinTT Monitoring Strategy: www.wildtrout.org Severn Trent/Staffordshire MIC
www.mayflyintheclassroom.org Assessing the Past for the Future: a case study of Nottinghamshire’s water meadows 1. Presentation structure
1. Background & history. - What are water meadows? - Where are they found? - Forms of water meadow 2. Nottinghamshire water meadows 3. Carburton Water Meadow - Form and history - Restoration – objectives and work conducted 4. Closing thoughts and conclusions
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 19 2. What is a water meadow?
•An area of grassland in which the quantity and quality of grass is increased through artificial irrigation •Main aim to prolong, or bring forward grass growth by raising soil temperature above 5oC for a few days at a time, regularly through winter •Water is kept flowing, not stationary •Secondary benefits of nutrients & sediment (sometimes dirty water) Britford Water Meadows, Wilts (English Heritage)
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 20 3. Forms of water meadow
1. Bedwork 2. Catchwork 2
1
Image: Hampshire County Council
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 21 4. A water meadow year in southern England
Boswell, (1779) Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 22 5. Dominance of southern & western England water meadows
Britford Water Meadow, Wiltshire
(Both Kathy Stearne, Natural England)
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 23 6. Factors contributing to early 19th Century expansion of water meadows
• Napoleonic War • Food crisis • High wheat (corn) prices • Drive to productivity • Availability of labour • Peer pressure? One-upmanship on the large estates
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 24 7. 19th Century expansion
“The verdant meads by labour form’d, With genial streams thro’ winter warm’d, Put forth their March and April shoots; To vie with May’s luxuriant roots”
“Why many millions pay for grain From British soil we might obtain? With toil and treasure spent in trade, Our fields might soon be gardens ade. More care to pastures poor extend, By sheep and kine their herbage mend; And where no swath of grass be mown, There let the yellow corn be sown” William Smith, 1806
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 25 8. Welbeck water meadows as of 1849
- Maun (Clipstone) main area + What of the other Estates? • Rainworth • Edwinstowe Thoresby • Ollerton - Perlethorpe • Dog & Duck - Maun D/S of Edwinstowe) - Mansfield Woodhouse - Sutton – High Oakham Clumber - Gleadthorpe - D/S of Great Lake - Carburton Plus others in construction: Others….? -Cuckney -Milnthorpe
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 26 9. Clipstone (Maun) water meadows
Sanderson, (1835)
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 27 10. General decline of the water meadows
• Agricultural recession from • Imported & man-made fertiliser about 1879 reduced reliance on the benefits of water meadows • Cereal harvest badly affected by poor weather late 19thC • Post WWII drive for productivity; mechanisation, bagged fertiliser, • Imports from America & new and agrochemical development world impacted home prod’n • Nottinghamshire – mining • Early 20th C, refrigerated meat subsidence (affected levels of (especially New Zealand lamb) dykes and panes) was introduced – lower price • By early 1970’s, the Clipstone than UK meat (Maun) meadows were paid off by the Coal Board to allow undermining
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 28 11. Decline of a landscape
Tony Barton, Mansfield Woodhouse Society
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 29 12. Loss of mid & northern England water meadows
• Images of Nottinghamshire catchwork water meadows? • Maps of Nottinghamshire water meadows? • Recording of Nottinghamshire water meadow features? • Documents? • Memories?
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 30 13. Restoration of a landscape – Carburton Water Meadows
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 31 14. 2nd series Ordnance Survey map of Carburton
Relic water meadow
Relic water meadow
1km
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 32 15. Work conducted (I)
• Desk research for historical • documents, maps and plans • Oral history evening • Aerial photogrammetric survey (subsidence) 1.capable of historic restoration 2.potential habitat benefits • GPR survey to investigate subsurface features • Survey of underground pipes and drainage • Phase I Ecological Impact Assessment of proposed works • Breeding birds survey • Restoration and reinstatement of sluice in Flood Dyke • Restoration of several stone sluices and wooden hatches • Restoration of several 19th Century cast iron valves
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 33 16. Work conducted (II)
•Water quality sampling
•Soil sampling for N, P, K, Mg, pH
•Clearance of vegetation in channels to reveal cobbled bed
•Construction of stone spillway to reduce downstream flooding
•Clearance and recording of features
•Three interpretation boards
-Old School Tea rooms
-Roadside footpath
-Footpath across the middle meadow (spring 2011)
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 34 17. Aerial survey and subsidence
Derived image from 3D corrected photogrammetry
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 35 18.Sluices, valves and metalwork
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 36 19. Stonework and bunny hatches
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 37 20. Completion Phase I – water and wet grassland
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 38 21. Other benefits
• Overtopping – risk reduced • Soil and water quality – phosphorus and sediment reduction to Clumber lake SSSI? • Public enjoyment – accessible interpretation material (Carburton Tea Rooms & footpath) • Educational visits via Manor Farm • Tourism – a feature adjacent to Clumber Park • Local community – links with Brackenhurst College; study visits and conservation volunteers
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 39 22. Closing thoughts
1. National water & agricultural success story but little recognition beyond southern heartland 2. Increasing realisation of importance in other counties 3. Role in habitat delivery 4. Low input, & sustainable 5. Carburton • Help deliver ~12 ha of wetland BAP habitat • Restore a currently unique landscape in Nottinghamshire • Support education; schools, undergraduate & postgraduate • Synergistic use of a local business • Potential to improve water quality (phosphorus and sediment)
6. Need more information on extent, form and condition of water meadows in Nottinghamshire & Midlands
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 40 23. A collaborative project…
•Manor Farm, Carburton •Nottinghamshire County Council •Natural England •Welbeck Estate •Mark Stafford Stonemasonry – Nottingham •Cold Hanworth Forge and Blacksmithing School – Bob Oakes •Old School Tea Rooms, Carburton •Nottinghamshire Archives & Nottingham University Archives •Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mill Museum •Environment Agency •Coal Authority •UK Coal
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 41 Thank you
Dr Jon Hillman, URS Scott Wilson Robert Bower, Manor Farm, Carburton Dr Kathy Stearne, Natural England Brian Dunning, Natural England Shani Lambert, Nottinghamshire CC
Assessing the Past for the Future - RRC 14 April 2011Presentation Title 42 Restoration of riparian habitats on the old course of the River Ise in Northamptonshire – partnership working Dr Robin Field Revital-ISE Project Manager, Neil Monaghan RNRP Project Officer and Jane Pearman Reserves Manager, Wildlife Trust River Ise Catchment River Ise Catchment Sites Involved
Tailby Meadow, Desborough Wildlife Trust site Wet grassland – MG4 Heavily used by the local community Strongly supported by a Local Wildlife Trust group River straightened and old meander abandoned over 100 years ago Work to be completed
Meanders restored Fencing to allow grazing and cattle handling facilities Resource protection – cattle drinking areas Hedge laying Partners Wildife Trust, EA, Northamptonshire CC, RRC, Local Wildlife Trust group
Meanders at Ise Valley Park
Cooks Spinney Former Local Wildlife Site Downgraded to Potential Wildlife Site due to loss of habitat Meanders and short tails restored Woodland coppiced Partners EA, Kettering BC, Natural-ISE
Water meadow restoration Local Wildlife Site for vegetation Unmanaged in living memory 7ha site with range of ditches still visible HLS agreement and Awards for All grant for a range of community events Partners Wicksteed Park, Wildlife Trust, EA, Nat Eng, Big Lottery, Natural-ISE, Groundwork Northants Water meadow restoration