River and wetland Restoration
Many river floodplains have been drained, river channels straightened, deepened and engineered, and rivers cut off from their natural floodplains. Abstraction, development, agriculture, pollution and more recently, drought and climate change have all taken their toll on Sussex rivers and wetlands. Many wildlife species historically associated with wetlands have suffered, including a number of significant wading birds, mammals and plants. Rivers can be 'rehabilitated' to try and restore some of their natural functions and wetland habitats.
Floodplain at Knepp Estate
For restoration advice please follow the links below:
- River and wetland restoration guide for landowners
- The Manual of River restoration techniques
- The Wetland Restoration Manual from www.nhbs.com.
- River Restoration for Landowners (pdf)
Habitats
Ponds
- SORP pond webpage
- Planting up ponds (pdf 165KB)
- Problem pond plants (pdf 115KB)
- Good wildlife ponds (pdf 55KB)
- Pondlife pond book
- Froglife All you need to know about amphibians and reptiles
- Pond creation and enhancement: a guide for landowners (pdf)
- Perils of pond life
Reedbeds
The Sussex Reedbed Project can provide you with advice on how to manage, create and restore reedbeds. Please contact the Sussex Reedbed Officer on :- (01273) 775333
Wet woodland and Woodland Management
If you have land available in a river valley and you think that you would like to plant a wood there, please contact SORP for a free site visit and advice or download the advice sheets below.
- How to manage wet woodlands (pdf)
- So you own a woodland (pdf)
- Riverine woodland mix (pdf)
- England Woodland Grant Scheme
Grants are available from the Forestry Commission for planting and managing woodlands. Six categories of grant are available some of which can help fund woodland management and creation. - Woodland Planning Grant
- Woodland Assessment Grant
- Woodland Regeneration Grant
- Woodland Improvement Grant
- Woodland Management Grant
- Woodland Creation Grant
- Creating wet woodland (pdf)
Large Woody Debris
Woody debris, such as fallen trees, large branches, twigs and leaves, can be seen as a 'nuisance' in watercourses and is often removed. Woody debris is however a vital component of rivers and streams.
The booklet 'Managing Woody Debris in Rivers and Streams' is for farmers, wetland landowners, site managers, anglers, foresters, local authorities and policy makers and aims to promote best practice in rivers and watercourse management by dispelling the myths and summarising the latest key thinking.
Invasive plants
- All choked up (pdf 515KB)
- Non native species
- Centre of Ecology and Hydrology
This website offers advice on the control of a number of different aquatic plants. - Wetland Plants - their function and management
