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Contact for More Information: info@essexsuffolkriverstrust.org
The River Colne is an asset for wildlife and water through Essex however, it is known to have low flows and low dissolved oxygen levels at certain times of the year. This can affect fish, insects and other aquatic wildlife. Planting trees along the river can help to reduce these impacts by creating shading which results in cooler water temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen levels. Planting native trees on the banks also has its own intrinsic value for wildlife, creating new habitats which will benefit a mix of species from insects to bats.
Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust Project officer, Mary Norden, undertook a survey to identify possible opportunities and was also pleased to find an interested local landowner to work with. The ensuing discussions resulted in a detailed plan of action including the exact location of planting compartments and species mixes. Fencing and the need to ensure grazing animals couldn’t graze and browse our efforts were key! Mary worked closely with colleagues at the Environment Agency (EA) and with their assistance secured the required Flood Defence Consent for works near a main river and she carried out the ecological assessments.
Once the scope was agreed it was vital to find fencing and tree planting contractors who understood the objectives of what we were trying to achieve and worked hard to deliver it – a huge thanks to Karl Roots Contractors! The time of year meant we found ourselves up against the clock to get the scheme underway, as the bare rooted trees we were using needed to be in the ground before the end of March. It was tight but with everyone pulling together the project was completed well within time.
It all looked a bit raw having just been completed but once the many beautiful species of trees planted make progress, this area of the Colne will be even better for water and wildlife. There is a public footpath that runs along the back of the site from Seven Arches Farm (near Colchester) to New Bridge, so please wander along to take a look at the project.
If you are a local landowner, or an organisation that is interested in discussing possible enhancements, please get in touch via our website. Things we might do together include tree planting, fencing to reduce poaching / erosion of river banks and making new in-channel features such as woody debris that enhance river flow and create habitat and refuge for fish and other wildlife. You may also have your own ideas which we would be delighted to discuss.
A second year of planting has now been completed and a total area of 3,500m2 of the river bank is now planted with a variety of trees and shrubs suited to this area. Planting of the last three sections was completed in March 2017 and over time the trees and shrubs will provide much needed shade for the River Colne.
Thanks goes, again, to the landowner for allowing us to create these areas on his land. Also this project would not have been possible without funding from the Environment Agency and Essex Rivers Hub Catchment Partnership and the trees and planting equipment provided by the Woodland Trust in 2017.
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The topics below represent the pressures that many waterbodies in the Combined Essex catchment face. They have been divided into six main categories, but it is quite often that these categories can overlap as pressures relate to each other.
