Essex Rivers Hub
Creating areas for marginal vegetation to establish.
Along the brook, in Belfairs Park, there are areas referred to as cut off meanders or ox bows. These are areas cut off from the main channel by the build-up of silt being which has been deposited there over many years.
The brook, due to its composition and heavy usage by the public has little inchannel and marginal vegetation within Belfairs Park. Therefore is was decided to remove some of the silt build up from these cut off meanders, allowing some water to pool here during high flow and plant these area with marginal plants that will thrive in this habitat. The plants used included reed, Yellow-flag Iris, sedge and Purple Loosestrife. This will create additional habitats and improve the biodiversity.
The digging and planting of these areas was completed in October 2014 and temporary fencing was installed to reduce disturbance while these areas established.
It is hoped these areas will allow the planted and also naturally establishing plants to create habitats and improve the biodiversity of this part of the brook.
RBD/catchment/river/tributary
River Roach Catchment
WFD water body status
Moderate
WFD overall status objective
To acheive Good Ecological status by 2027
Project type
Habitat Creation
Benefiting species and/or habitats
Creating additional habitats within the brook and improving biodiversity
Total area covered by project
Belfairs Park
Total area surveyed
Whole of the Prittle Brook
Project lead
Louise Morris - Essex Wildlife Trust
Contact for more information
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Project partners
Essex Wildlife Trust and Southend Council
Funding source
Cory Environmental Trust
Project start
September 2014
Project end
September 2014
Website key stakeholders:
