The Environment Agency has completed a river and floodplain enhancement project in partnership with the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Stour Valley Project, and a landowner.

The project on the River Stour, near Bures, which was funded through Defra’s Water Environment Improvement Fund, will help water voles, fish and invertebrates flourish.

This stretch of the Stour has historically been modified to facilitate milling, navigation and land drainage. The project was focused on improving the condition of the stretch by enriching the habitats along the river and enhancing connectivity with the floodplain.

The project has restored more than 400 metres of floodplain ditches, reconnecting them to the river and selectively deepening them so they remain wet at all times. This has substantially increased the area of wetland on the site, providing additional habitat for fish, aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plant species.

Parts of the river edge have been re-profiled to create areas of shallow water that will encourage the growth of marginal plant species.

Five backwaters of varying size have also been created along the bank of the river. A backwater is an aquatic habitat which connects to the main river and has two important functions depending on the flow.

In high flows, the backwater becomes a refuge for adult fish to rest in until the normal flows return. In normal flows, the shallower water left in the backwater will warm up quicker than the main channel. This means it will act as a nursery area promoting the growth of young fish.

Rob Dryden, a biodiversity specialist from the Environment Agency, said:

“We’ve welcomed this opportunity to work with local partners to put in place these habitat enhancements to the River Stour and adjacent floodplain grazing marshes.

“We look forward to seeing the increase in local biodiversity as the new habitats become established.”

Overall, the project will result in a net increase in suitable water vole habitat. It is also expected that water voles will colonise the newly created wetlands in the years ahead.