RESTORE - User contributions [en]

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T11:21:40Z

James.thomas:

{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Project web site url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project#rt-the-opportunity-in-north-devon
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project picture=IMG 1229.jpeg
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Lessons learn=The video summarising project work so far can be seen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TcxL3JD6UQ&t=153s
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Measures
|Bank and bed modifications measure=Leaky Dams, Floodplain Reconnection
|Floodplain / River corridor=Riparen Tree Management, Scrapes, Pond Creation, Contour Ditches
|Planform / Channel pattern=Channel Widening, Backwater
|Social measures=Engagement with a wide range of stakeholders
}}
{{Motivations
|Specific mitigation=Land drainage, Barriers to fish migration, Invasive species, Flood risk management, Drinking water storage and supply
}}

{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

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{{Site}}
{{Project background}}

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File:IMG 1229.jpeg

2026-02-26T11:21:32Z

James.thomas:

File:Tattiscombe.jpeg

2026-02-26T11:12:37Z

James.thomas: Tattiscombe Floodplain Reconnection

Tattiscombe Floodplain Reconnection

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T11:04:27Z

James.thomas:

{{Measures
|Bank and bed modifications measure=Leaky Dams, Floodplain Reconnection
|Floodplain / River corridor=Riparen Tree Management, Scrapes, Pond Creation, Contour Ditches
|Planform / Channel pattern=Channel Widening, Backwater
|Social measures=Engagement with a wide range of stakeholders
}}
{{Motivations
|Specific mitigation=Land drainage, Barriers to fish migration, Invasive species, Flood risk management, Drinking water storage and supply
}}
{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Project web site url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project#rt-the-opportunity-in-north-devon
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Lessons learn=The video summarising project work so far can be seen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TcxL3JD6UQ&t=153s
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

{{Image gallery}}
{{Image gallery end}}
{{Toggle button}}
{{Toggle content start}}

{{Site}}
{{Project background}}

{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{End table}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
{{Monitoring documents end}}
{{Additional Documents}}
{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Toggle content end}}

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T11:00:34Z

James.thomas:

{{Motivations
|Specific mitigation=Land drainage, Barriers to fish migration, Invasive species, Flood risk management, Drinking water storage and supply
}}
{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Project web site url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project#rt-the-opportunity-in-north-devon
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Lessons learn=The video summarising project work so far can be seen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TcxL3JD6UQ&t=153s
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

{{Image gallery}}
{{Image gallery end}}
{{Toggle button}}
{{Toggle content start}}

{{Site}}
{{Project background}}

{{Measures}}
{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{End table}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
{{Monitoring documents end}}
{{Additional Documents}}
{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Toggle content end}}

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:57:38Z

James.thomas:

{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Project web site url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project#rt-the-opportunity-in-north-devon
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Lessons learn=The video summarising project work so far can be seen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TcxL3JD6UQ&t=153s
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

{{Image gallery}}
{{Image gallery end}}
{{Toggle button}}
{{Toggle content start}}

{{Site}}
{{Project background}}
{{Motivations}}
{{Measures}}
{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{End table}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
{{Monitoring documents end}}
{{Additional Documents}}
{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Toggle content end}}

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:57:01Z

James.thomas:

{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Project web site url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project#rt-the-opportunity-in-north-devon
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Monitoring surveys and results=We are monitoring changes across our sites with anecdotal evidence showing increases to the number of frogs, dragon flies, invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
|Lessons learn=The video summarising project work so far can be seen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TcxL3JD6UQ&t=153s
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

{{Image gallery}}
{{Image gallery end}}
{{Toggle button}}
{{Toggle content start}}

{{Site}}
{{Project background}}
{{Motivations}}
{{Measures}}
{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{End table}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
{{Monitoring documents end}}
{{Additional Documents}}
{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Toggle content end}}

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:55:44Z

James.thomas:

{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Monitoring surveys and results=We are monitoring changes across our sites with anecdotal evidence showing increases to the number of frogs, dragon flies, invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
|Lessons learn=The video summarising project work so far can be seen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TcxL3JD6UQ&t=153s
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

{{Image gallery}}
{{Image gallery end}}
{{Toggle button}}
{{Toggle content start}}

{{Site}}
{{Project background}}
{{Motivations}}
{{Measures}}
{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{End table}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
{{Monitoring documents end}}
{{Additional Documents}}
{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Toggle content end}}

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:53:14Z

James.thomas:

{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.

The opportunity in North Devon
Working across four Ranger teams and portfolios, with our partners, offers the opportunity to restore significant areas of wetland habitats across North Devon. This will be done by removing man-made drainage features and working with natural processes to allow the land to function in a more natural way.

From simple measures such as creating new ponds and scrapes to increasing open water, blocking land drains and drainage ditches to expand wetland habitat, all the way through to wet woodland creation, floodplain reconnection and resetting the land through stage zero techniques. Stage zero techniques involve restoring rivers and tributaries to a more natural state before human interference.

These measures will help hold water across a wider area for longer, thereby improving water quality, reducing flood risk and improving drought resilience. This creation of wetland, will also have a positive impact of biodiversity, increasing habitat for bird such as pied flycatchers, small mammals and invertebrates along with an increase in dragonflies and damsel flies, which are insects that support farmland birds and bats.
|Monitoring surveys and results=We are monitoring changes across our sites with anecdotal evidence showing increases to the number of frogs, dragon flies, invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
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|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
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|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
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Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:41:59Z

James.thomas:

{{Case study subcatchment
|Subcatchment=TAW / TORRIDGE
}}
{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.
|Monitoring surveys and results=We are monitoring changes across our sites with anecdotal evidence showing increases to the number of frogs, dragon flies, invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

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{{Toggle content start}}

{{Site}}
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Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:40:41Z

James.thomas:

{{Project overview
|Status=In progress
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
|Multi-site=Yes
|Project summary=The North Devon Riverlands Project restores wetland habitats across North Devon. Collaborating with four Ranger teams—Arlington Court, West Exmoor, Hartland, and Woolacombe—we focus on nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, combat soil erosion, and improve drought resilience, while promoting biodiversity. These efforts will create healthy, natural spaces for all to enjoy.

The Riverlands project
The Riverlands project is an ambitious, long-term programme of work, at the heart of the Trust’s ambitions for restoring a healthy, natural environment. We're creating larger, connected spaces for nature on the land we care for, working in partnerships to achieve sustainable landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife.

Currently only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health, with 13% of freshwater and wetland species now threatened with extinction in the UK. 90% of lowland ponds were lost in the 20th century and 90% of our wetland habitat has been lost over the past century. We're setting out to reverse this trend through our work.

Our Vision
Our vision is to restore: 

“A dynamic network of varied and naturally functioning wetland habitats across North Devon to create a diverse and resilient area for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy.”

Background
Centuries of land drainage across North Devon for farming and development have harmed wildlife and the environment. Streams and rivers were canalized and disconnected from floodplains, resulting in wetlands lost, reduced water quality, and an increased risk of flash flooding and soil erosion.

These practices have also had profound impacts upon wildlife, massively reducing the once widespread wetland habitats that many plants and animals depend on for their survival. This includes some of our most threatened and iconic species, such as water voles, otters, and kingfisher. 

With more extreme weather causing floods, droughts, and further habitat loss, there is a growing need for sustainable water management to protect both wildlife and landscapes.
|Monitoring surveys and results=We are monitoring changes across our sites with anecdotal evidence showing increases to the number of frogs, dragon flies, invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
}}
{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}

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File:Tattiscombe.jpg

2026-02-26T10:33:22Z

James.thomas: Tattiscombe Site

Tattiscombe Site

File:Tattiscombe JT Photo.jpg

2026-02-26T10:30:37Z

James.thomas: Photo of the floodplain reconnection site at Tattiscombe taken by James Thomas

Photo of the floodplain reconnection site at Tattiscombe taken by James Thomas

Case study:North Devon Riverlands

2026-02-26T10:22:25Z

James.thomas: Created page with "{{Case study status |Approval status=Draft }} {{Location |Location=51.13605, -4.24531 }} {{Project overview |Project title=North Devon Riverlands |Status=In progress |Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality |Country=England |Main contact forename=James |Main contact surname=Thomas |Main contact id=James.thomas |Contact organisation=National T..."

{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
}}
{{Location
|Location=51.13605, -4.24531
}}
{{Project overview
|Project title=North Devon Riverlands
|Status=In progress
|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=James
|Main contact surname=Thomas
|Main contact id=James.thomas
|Contact organisation=National Trust
|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/arlington-court-and-the-national-trust-carriage-museum/north-devon-riverlands-project
|Multi-site=Yes
|Name of parent multi-site project=National Trust Riverlands
}}
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