Conservation progress on River Nar
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THE River Nar will soon be back on stream after long-term damage and neglect. Judy Bates has been finding how an award-winning project is putting things right.
THE UPPER reaches of the River Nar are being handed back to Mother Nature again.
An ongoing restoration project is repairing long-term damage to stretches of the waterway and creating a cleaner, friendlier environment for the creatures and plants that live there.
There will be all-round benefits. The water voles will have more sanctuaries and hideaways along the banks, there will be better hunting grounds for the otters, fish will have the full run of the river again and the public, including anglers, will be able to enjoy the valley at its most idyllic and natural.
The River Nar has already been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because it is a rare combination of a chalk stream with woodlands and wet meadows which changes character and becomes a traditional Fenland river as it winds towards Lynn and its outfall into the tidal Ouse.
Its mix of riffles, pools, gravel beds and meanders, the lush bankside vegetation and summer meadows have created a very rare and nationally important wildlife hotspot.
It is home to nearly 80 river plants, including the southern marsh orchid, a dozen different species of dragonflies, kingfishers, grey wagtails, willow and marsh tits and reed warblers, dace, eels, chub and brown trout. In the upper stretches it is one of the few remaining rivers in East Anglia to support a run of rare sea trout.
All of these will benefit from the restoration scheme which began early this year. It will undo centuries of damage caused by climate, erosion and human intervention by restoring natural features such as pools, meanders, shallow gravel areas and reed beds and removing dilapidated weirs to let the water flow freely again and reduce the build-up of silt.
Several organisations have pooled their knowledge, skills and resources to carry out the Nar Restoration Strategy. The partnership includes the Environment Agency, Natural England, drainage boards, landowners and various angling clubs.
They finished the first phase of the scheme, which included the stretch through Castle Acre, early this autumn and will re-start in February. The work done so far has already won the Nar a place on the Environment Agency’s list of the top ten most improved rivers in the country.
The scheme will work its way down to Narborough, allowing fish to migrate round four major weirs, removing several other obstructions and reconnecting the river to its natural floodplain.
Giles Bloomfield is catchment officer for the Broads internal drainage board which is part of the partnership. He said: “There is an abundance of protected species there which will benefit from our work and it will also improve the amenity value and public access. Crucially, we are able to do this without compromising flood protection.”
The Environment Agency’s Chris Bell said: “It is so satisfying to see this river come alive again, with a little help from us to undo hundreds of years of human work which unfortunately damaged wildlife habitats.
“We understand so much more now about how we can work with nature to encourage a great mix of wildlife but still get the use from the river that people want.”
The Nar is just one of the projects the Agency is undertaking by 2015 to improve water quality in rivers, lakes, coastal waters and groundwater to meet EU targets.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
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