Case study:Kirkstone Beck River Restoration - Revision history

Ascarr at 11:04, 26 March 2024

2024-03-26T11:04:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:04, 26 March 2024
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	{{Case study status		{{Case study status
	\|Approval status=~~Draft~~		\|Approval status=Approved
	}}		}}
	{{Location		{{Location

Ascarr at 17:09, 25 March 2024

2024-03-25T17:09:42Z

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	\|Main contact forename=Alice		\|Main contact forename=Alice
	\|Main contact surname=James		\|Main contact surname=James
	\|Main contact id=~~Alice.James~~		\|Main contact id=AliceJames
	\|Contact organisation=The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty		\|Contact organisation=The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
	\|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/		\|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Ascarr at 17:08, 25 March 2024

2024-03-25T17:08:42Z

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	\|Name of parent multi-site project=Case_study:Ullswater Catchment Restoration		\|Name of parent multi-site project=Case_study:Ullswater Catchment Restoration
	\|Multi-site=No		\|Multi-site=No
	\|Project summary=Located upstream of Brothers Water in the Ullswater valley, Kirkstone Beck runs through the valley bottom at Hartsop Hall Farm. The beck, and its tributaries, had been subjected to significant modifications, straightened and with large embankments completely disconnecting the channel from the floodplain.		\|Project picture=Ust to Dst Hartsop Edited reduced.jpg
			\|Project summary=Located upstream of Brothers Water in the Ullswater valley, Kirkstone Beck runs through the valley bottom at Hartsop Hall Farm. The beck, and its tributaries, had been subjected to significant modifications, straightened and with large embankments completely disconnecting the channel from the floodplain.


	However, Hartsop Hall Farm is one of the few farms in the Lake District which still produces all its own silage and hay on-farm. With limited valley bottom land, every little bit of floodplain is therefore vital to the success of the farm business. In 2019 the National Trust’s Riverlands project, part of a national programme of river and catchment restoration work, began working closely with the tenant farmer to develop a river restoration design which allowed the development of natural processes within a confined area, protecting the meadows that are relied upon to feed livestock over winter. Other partners in the scheme design included the Environment Agency and Natural England.		However, Hartsop Hall Farm is one of the few farms in the Lake District which still produces all its own silage and hay on-farm. With limited valley bottom land, every little bit of floodplain is therefore vital to the success of the farm business. In 2019 the National Trust’s Riverlands project, part of a national programme of river and catchment restoration work, began working closely with the tenant farmer to develop a river restoration design which allowed the development of natural processes within a confined area, protecting the meadows that are relied upon to feed livestock over winter. Other partners in the scheme design included the Environment Agency and Natural England.


	An interest in potential change was triggered by Storm Desmond in 2015, during which the only access bridge to the farmstead was damaged and a novel solution was sought. After consultation with the tenant farmer to agree which bits of land could be given over to the river, the resulting design aimed for a continuous thread of restoration along ~2km of channel. The aims of the project were to restore natural processes to this length of river, improve the SSSI condition of Brothers Water immediately downstream of the restored reach, and deliver a sustainable, flood resilient access solution to the farmstead.		An interest in potential change was triggered by Storm Desmond in 2015, during which the only access bridge to the farmstead was damaged and a novel solution was sought. After consultation with the tenant farmer to agree which bits of land could be given over to the river, the resulting design aimed for a continuous thread of restoration along ~2km of channel. The aims of the project were to restore natural processes to this length of river, improve the SSSI condition of Brothers Water immediately downstream of the restored reach, and deliver a sustainable, flood resilient access solution to the farmstead.

AliceJames at 12:46, 14 March 2024

2024-03-14T12:46:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:46, 14 March 2024
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	\|Contact organisation=The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty		\|Contact organisation=The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
	\|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/		\|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
			\|Name of parent multi-site project=Case_study:Ullswater Catchment Restoration
	\|Multi-site=No		\|Multi-site=No
	\|Project summary=Located upstream of Brothers Water in the Ullswater valley, Kirkstone Beck runs through the valley bottom at Hartsop Hall Farm. The beck, and its tributaries, had been subjected to significant modifications, straightened and with large embankments completely disconnecting the channel from the floodplain.		\|Project summary=Located upstream of Brothers Water in the Ullswater valley, Kirkstone Beck runs through the valley bottom at Hartsop Hall Farm. The beck, and its tributaries, had been subjected to significant modifications, straightened and with large embankments completely disconnecting the channel from the floodplain.

AliceJames at 14:30, 17 January 2024

2024-01-17T14:30:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:30, 17 January 2024
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	}}		}}
	{{Image gallery}}		{{Image gallery}}
			{{Case study image
			\|File name=20210805140055 IMG 0596.JPG
			\|Caption=Kirkstone Beck pre-restoration, a snarrow, single thread channel with revetments, embankments and little diversity
			}}
			{{Case study image
			\|File name=Ust to Dst Hartsop Edited reduced.jpg
			\|Caption=The completed restoration of Kirkstone Beck, with a wider river channel and diversity of features
			}}
	{{Image gallery end}}		{{Image gallery end}}
	{{Toggle button}}		{{Toggle button}}

AliceJames at 14:11, 17 January 2024

2024-01-17T14:11:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:11, 17 January 2024
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	\|Hydromorphological quality elements=River restoration to restore natural process and floodplain reconnection - responding to physical modifications on the waterbody		\|Hydromorphological quality elements=River restoration to restore natural process and floodplain reconnection - responding to physical modifications on the waterbody
	}}		}}
	{{Measures}}		{{Measures
			\|Bank and bed modifications measure=Embankment removal, Diversification of in-channel features,
			\|Floodplain / River corridor=Rejuvination of river delta, widening of river channel
			\|Planform / Channel pattern=Widening to allow wandering sections
			\|Social measures=partnership working with organisations including the EA, NE & LDNPA, as well as the tenant farmer; site visits hosted to share project success and lessons
			}}
	{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}		{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
	{{End table}}		{{End table}}

AliceJames at 14:08, 17 January 2024

2024-01-17T14:08:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:08, 17 January 2024
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	\|Funding sources=Water Environment Grant, National Trust		\|Funding sources=Water Environment Grant, National Trust
	}}		}}
	{{Motivations}}		{{Motivations
			\|Specific mitigation=Flood risk to infrastructure (bridge)
			\|Hydromorphological quality elements=River restoration to restore natural process and floodplain reconnection - responding to physical modifications on the waterbody
			}}
	{{Measures}}		{{Measures}}
	{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}		{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}

AliceJames at 14:08, 17 January 2024

2024-01-17T14:08:21Z

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	{{Case study subcatchment}}		{{Case study subcatchment}}
	{{Site}}		{{Site}}
	{{Project background}}		{{Project background
			\|Reach length directly affected=2000
			\|Project started=2019
			\|Total cost category=500 - 1000 k€
			\|Funding sources=Water Environment Grant, National Trust
			}}
	{{Motivations}}		{{Motivations}}
	{{Measures}}		{{Measures}}

AliceJames at 14:04, 17 January 2024

2024-01-17T14:04:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:04, 17 January 2024
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	However, Hartsop Hall Farm is one of the few farms in the Lake District which still produces all its own silage and hay on-farm. With limited valley bottom land, every little bit of floodplain is therefore vital to the success of the farm business. In 2019 the National Trust’s Riverlands project, part of a national programme of river and catchment restoration work, began working closely with the tenant farmer to develop a river restoration design which allowed the development of natural processes within a confined area, protecting the meadows that are relied upon to feed livestock over winter. Other partners in the scheme design included the Environment Agency and Natural England.		However, Hartsop Hall Farm is one of the few farms in the Lake District which still produces all its own silage and hay on-farm. With limited valley bottom land, every little bit of floodplain is therefore vital to the success of the farm business. In 2019 the National Trust’s Riverlands project, part of a national programme of river and catchment restoration work, began working closely with the tenant farmer to develop a river restoration design which allowed the development of natural processes within a confined area, protecting the meadows that are relied upon to feed livestock over winter. Other partners in the scheme design included the Environment Agency and Natural England.

	An interest in potential change was triggered by Storm Desmond in 2015, during which the only access bridge to the farmstead was damaged and a novel solution was sought. After consultation with the tenant farmer to agree which bits of land could be given over to the river, the resulting design aimed for a continuous thread of restoration along ~~2.1km~~ of channel. The aims of the project were to restore natural processes to this length of river, improve the SSSI condition of Brothers Water immediately downstream of the restored reach, and deliver a sustainable, flood resilient access solution to the farmstead.		An interest in potential change was triggered by Storm Desmond in 2015, during which the only access bridge to the farmstead was damaged and a novel solution was sought. After consultation with the tenant farmer to agree which bits of land could be given over to the river, the resulting design aimed for a continuous thread of restoration along ~2km of channel. The aims of the project were to restore natural processes to this length of river, improve the SSSI condition of Brothers Water immediately downstream of the restored reach, and deliver a sustainable, flood resilient access solution to the farmstead.

	The project was delivered in 2022. Embankments were set back from the channel, retaining protection for the meadows but allowing the river much more space. T-junction style tributary confluences were restored to wide, wandering systems, and the narrow single-span bridge was replaced with a wider double-span crossing. In the fens of Brothers Water, the design took a process-led approach, blocking the existing channel with large woody debris to encourage the natural evolution of an anastomosing system across the delta.		The project was delivered in 2022. Embankments were set back from the channel, retaining protection for the meadows but allowing the river much more space. T-junction style tributary confluences were restored to wide, wandering systems, and the narrow single-span bridge was replaced with a wider double-span crossing. In the fens of Brothers Water, the design took a process-led approach, blocking the existing channel with large woody debris to encourage the natural evolution of an anastomosing system across the delta.

AliceJames at 14:01, 17 January 2024

2024-01-17T14:01:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:01, 17 January 2024
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	}}		}}
	{{Project overview		{{Project overview
	~~\|Project title=Kirkstone Beck River Restoration~~
	\|Status=Complete		\|Status=Complete
	\|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Water quality		\|Themes=Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Water quality
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	\|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/		\|Contact organisation url=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
	\|Multi-site=No		\|Multi-site=No
			\|Project summary=Located upstream of Brothers Water in the Ullswater valley, Kirkstone Beck runs through the valley bottom at Hartsop Hall Farm. The beck, and its tributaries, had been subjected to significant modifications, straightened and with large embankments completely disconnecting the channel from the floodplain.

			However, Hartsop Hall Farm is one of the few farms in the Lake District which still produces all its own silage and hay on-farm. With limited valley bottom land, every little bit of floodplain is therefore vital to the success of the farm business. In 2019 the National Trust’s Riverlands project, part of a national programme of river and catchment restoration work, began working closely with the tenant farmer to develop a river restoration design which allowed the development of natural processes within a confined area, protecting the meadows that are relied upon to feed livestock over winter. Other partners in the scheme design included the Environment Agency and Natural England.

			An interest in potential change was triggered by Storm Desmond in 2015, during which the only access bridge to the farmstead was damaged and a novel solution was sought. After consultation with the tenant farmer to agree which bits of land could be given over to the river, the resulting design aimed for a continuous thread of restoration along 2.1km of channel. The aims of the project were to restore natural processes to this length of river, improve the SSSI condition of Brothers Water immediately downstream of the restored reach, and deliver a sustainable, flood resilient access solution to the farmstead.

			The project was delivered in 2022. Embankments were set back from the channel, retaining protection for the meadows but allowing the river much more space. T-junction style tributary confluences were restored to wide, wandering systems, and the narrow single-span bridge was replaced with a wider double-span crossing. In the fens of Brothers Water, the design took a process-led approach, blocking the existing channel with large woody debris to encourage the natural evolution of an anastomosing system across the delta.

			Initial analysis shows that the total river area has increased significantly, from 1,850m2 to 23,300m2; that’s more than 12 times as much river habitat available post-restoration compared to the baseline. Considering the level of compromise required on this project, these figures are impressive. Furthermore, flood events since construction have seen dynamic changes throughout the restored areas, with channels shifting through three large boulder wandering sections (semi-permanent gravel bar consisting of larger, boulder-type material). Large areas of open standing water have also been created, adding an important habitat which is so often missing from the landscape.
			\|Project title=Kirkstone Beck River Restoration
	}}		}}
	{{Image gallery}}		{{Image gallery}}