Features
River Revetment Work
Those of you that remember the gale force winds of
February 2007 will recall the number of trees and
buildings that sustained significant damage.
Where a tree fell into the River Lostock, near the
picnic area, it diverted the river, which in turn eroded
the bank.
Erosion by picnic area
Rangers were able to remove the tree but had to wait for
the wintertime to do the work to stabilise and rebuild
the riverbank.
Following advice from the Environment Agency, willow
coppiced, by Cuerden Valley Park Conservation
Volunteers, from one of the Nature Reserves was used as
stakes. With each stake being driven three feet into the
river bed to support the woven revetment.
Willow stakes in riverbed
Rangers and volunteers worked to weave alder branches
between the willow stakes to form the new river bank.
  Weaving
the alder
Harvesting the alder
A second row of willow
stakes was then driven in behind to form a second bank
to contain the river in times of higher flow, both were
then filled with earth.
 
Filling revetment with earth
Driving in
second row of willow stakes
Willow stakes were used as
willow will hopefully grow and root into the new bank
and help to stabilise it.
Another section of the
riverbank, upstream near the new bridge, has also been
stabilised using a similar technique. All the materials
used in both projects were sourced from sustainably
managed woodlands in the Park.
 
Finished Revetment by Picnic Area
Finished Revetment at New Bridge This work has taken place
over several weeks and many Park users have stopped to
ask the staff what they are doing. Now the work is
finished we will be watching the progress of this area
to see how it develops. Keep an eye on the news page of
this website for updates.
If you are interested in helping out and learning
new skills, then why not become a Conservation
Volunteer, if you are not working or retired then why
not take the opportunity to give one day a week to work
alongside the Rangers. Contact the Park office on 01772
324436 or go to our volunteers
page for more information.
More Features coming soon
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