The leading specialist wetland consultancy
River Gaunless Wetland Creation
Services provided
Client
Interserve
Location
River Gaunless, County Durham, UK
Year
2003-2004
WWT Consulting was appointed by Interserve, on behalf of the Environment Agency, to develop both concept and detailed designs for the creation of washland habitat on the River Gaunless. The designs had the dual purpose of providing habitat beneficial to biodiversity as well as delivering much needed flood alleviation to Butterknowle, Ramshaw and West Auckland which have experienced a long history of flooding.
The designs incorporated reedbed, wet woodland, wet grassland, open water and hedgerow habitats. These contributed to the Durham and UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets for wetland habitats.
Detailed construction plans for landforming and a planting plan were produced for construction of the new habitats. WWT Consulting undertook site supervision of the earthworks and planting to ensure the project was a success.