The Catchment Plan project was delivered by the Wandle Trust between 2014 and 2017. Several sections of the River Wandle were restored and re-naturalised to encourage the river to function as a natural chalk stream.
Due to the Wandle’s industrial past the river channel is in places impounded, overly straightened and widened, and contains artificial barriers such as weirs. These man-made features once helped to power the Wandle’s water wheels and mills; but today they serve little purpose and affect the ability of the Wandle to flow as a natural chalk stream, causing issues for its wildlife.
Four sites along the river were chosen and a team of River Rehab volunteers were trained in how to plan and deliver catchment restorations, as well as how to monitor the success of each project through invertebrate surveys.
The first part of this project was completed in early 2015 with restorations at Hackbridge and Butterhill in Sutton, and Ravensbury Park back-channel in Merton.
A final restoration took place at Morden Hall Park in late 2017 as an addition to the Morden Hall Park Wetlands project. During this restoration, National Trust staff received training from the Wandle Trust to go on to improve other stretches of river within the park.
At each site physical changes were made to benefit fish, invertebrates, mammals and amphibians. These changes included: adapting weirs, sluices and other river obstructions; re-profiling the river and banks to create a narrower, meandering channel; adding in gravel and woody debris for habitat variation; and planting native vegetation along the banks.
Not only did this project create positive changes in the local landscape, it provided people with the opportunity to take real action to improve the river for wildlife.
The Wandle Catchment Plan was produced in 2013 after extensive consultation, it identifies several projects to improve the river for wildlife and people. Click here to learn more about the Wandle vision and catchment plan itself
This project is part of the wider Living Wandle Landscape Partnership Scheme, funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
