Trees aid flood fight back

A year after the worst floods in living memory caused devastation across the Lake District a major riverbank tree planting scheme is underway.

Around 2,000 locally sourced native species will help protect vulnerable land around the Derwent and Greta rivers - which last November saw trees ripped up and carried away - and provide future flood protection.

The Environment Agency has teamed up with Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme and the Woodland Trust to plant the sensitive sites with a range of indigenous varieties.

Project leader Mike Farrell, of the Environment Agency, said the Derwent, Greta, Glenderamackin, Cocker and Marron had already seen extensive action to stop loose soil entering watercourses.

He explained: "We have worked on a number of ’soft engineering’ techniques, including planting willow spiling, fencing, hedges, even using large logs with small fir trees attached, creating a barrier to hold back eroded banks.


"These measures are very beneficial. Not only do they help improve water quality in Bassenthwaite Lake, but do well as flood defence by slowing river flows and helping prevent erosion. They also create new wildlife habitats.

"It was particularly reassuring to see how banks we have worked on stood up to last November’s overwhelming floods."

Peter Leeson, of the Woodland Trust, said his organisation - which helps people plant trees across the UK - had been especially moved by scenes of last year’s flooding in Cumbria.

He added: "We will be planting several thousands trees in nine different schemes from Keswick to Workington over the winter. They will have long term benefits for water quality and wildlife."

EA staff on environmental leave days will be joined by angling club members, landowners and volunteers to plant in designated areas, shoring up the existing stabilising measures.

Loose soil in rivers is particularly damaging to lakes. In Bassenthwaite it has a detrimental effect on water quality and has clogged up vital gravel spawning grounds for fish.

Since 2001, there has been no record of endangered vendace. The population may now be extinct.