SIDMOUTH RIVER RESTORATION
There are plans to ‘restore’ the River Sid to something more ‘natural’ – and much of this restoration would be in the ‘urban areas’ of Sidmouth.
Under the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy, there is the intention to restore the River Sid to ‘good ecological status’.
The Sid Advisory Visit from the Wild Trout Trust from 2022 argued that there should be some minor ‘un-straightening’ of the Sid‘ where practicable – and stated that “the lower Sid is locked into its incised setting and so interventions must work to try to improve the current situation, not re-engineer it.”
And this time last year, the River Sid Catchment Plan was endorsed by the Town Council and is to be taken forward by the West Country Rivers Trust – primarily to restore life in the river system.
LONDON RIVER RESTORATION
Ultimately, investing in ‘nature-based solutions’ to reduce the risk of flooding benefits the natural environment as much as look after the local human population.
Three years ago, these solutions were being considered in London – including the extensive river restoration completed at Albany Park and Turkey Brook, ‘the London river that could hold the answer to saving Britain’s waterways’.
With more on the story in the Conversation: From concrete walls to living edges, here’s how riverside habitats are being restored along the Thames
…