In partnership with South East Rivers Trust, South East Water has announced the successful completion of a river restoration project on the Maidenhead Ditch in Berkshire.
The project, guided by AtkinsRealis, focused on building river resilience, improving habitats and enhancing biodiversity through carrying out work across two key sections, Fleet Ditch and Strand Water.
This collaborative initiative was designed to tackle pressing environmental issues by improving river health, supporting wildlife habitats, and contributing to a more sustainable river system in the Maidenhead area.
South East Water’s Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Lead, Brad Evans, said:
“We’re pleased to see the completion of this project, which promotes the improvement of habitat and biodiversity in the Maidenhead Ditch for future generations.
“It’s been a rewarding experience, and we’re proud of the substantial improvements already observed in each section. This project exemplifies our commitment to protecting and restoring our rivers for future generations.
“As the river continues to recover, we will continue to work with South East Rivers Trust to monitor its progress and look for further opportunities to support similar projects to improve the sustainability of our local river systems.”
Key project highlights
Fleet Ditch: Restoration efforts on Fleet Ditch focused on introducing more light along the riverbank to enhance the habitat. Selective tree felling was carried out to open the area and increase sunlight exposure to the water. The felled trees were repurposed on-site and skilfully used to create a feature in the river that diverts faster-flowing water out to the other side of the channel while collecting sediment and, in doing so, creating new habitats for wildlife.
The berms will improve channel flow dynamics, creating a more supportive environment for aquatic plants and species.
Strand Water: The restoration efforts at Strand Water involved constructing an extensive marginal shelf designed to create additional habitat and diversity. The shelf is connected to the river and will fill with water during high flow periods, creating diverse new wetland habitats. The shelf’s design includes small channels and pools ideal for supporting wetlands, flora, and fauna, encouraging a rich array of species to thrive in this rejuvenated section
