13. Riverside Way - Enhancing the River Ver

Aims: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow

Water body: River Ver

Project description

This project followed on from the previous project at Riverside Way, which, in 2015, saw the creation of a series of in channel structures from natural materials as well as native aquatic vegetation planting.

It aimed to build on these works to further improve the instream and riparian habitat on this stretch of the River Ver by addressing specific issues including overshading, low energy flow and bank erosion by animals.

A Flood Risk Activity Permit and a Felling Licence were secured in 2024 to enable the works. A programme of tree thinning was carried out in early 2025, in locations where low light prevented vegetation establishing on previous in channel structures (leading to their failure), where there were continuous stretches of shading by riparian trees, and where trees required removing due to ash die back. This will enable more vegetation to establish both in the water and on the banks, and will facilitate growth of younger trees in the woodland.

In May 2025 the final stage of this project saw the cut trees and brash generated by the woodland thinning used to create a range of habitat features in the channel where bank erosion or low energy flows were evident. The 15 new structures, installed by a fantastic joint effort between CMS volunteers and volunteers from the Ver Valley Society, create areas of faster flow, exposing gravel beds which are vital for salmonid spawning, and more gentle flow, where silt is deposited and aquatic vegetation can develop. Having these different micro-habitats within the river means it can support a wide range of species.

CMS (red tops) and VVS (blue hi-vis jackets) volunteers gathered for a briefing before works start.

Silt mats and wattles were placed across the river to trap any silt released by the works so it didn’t damage habitats downstream.

 After works were completed, the silt mats and wattles were removed from the water and fixed to the bank then sown with native marginal plant seeds. These products are made of natural materials (coir, hemp and woodchip) and with the silt they have collected make a good substrate for plants to grow on.

Project lead: Herts Countryside Management Service

Contact for more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Project start: 01 April 2024

Project end: 31 May 2025

Funding source: Hertfordshire County Council