]> 2026-04-12T05:25:20+00:00 Case study:Rewilding the Rom 500 en Thames 21 project webpage Spring 2023 drone footage Summer 2023 drone footage Online wetland construction drone footage Approved 0.5 - 2 m 2 - 5 m Thames 21 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Environment Agency Essex and Suffolk Water (Northumbrian Water) Kusuma Trust Land of the Fanns Thames Chase Mayor of London Essex & Suffolk Water Greater London Authority Kusuma Trust Land of the Fanns Yes No Yes true River Rom Wetlands As-built 11.10 (13).jpeg Before and after collage.png Online Wetlands Autumn 23300.JPG Rom Deflector - YMCA.JPG Wetlands Autumn 23.JPG Yes 100 - 500 k€ Thames21 Thames21 Local Nature Reserve 51.557860515715,0.18396958839733 TylerThames21 Carolina Thames 21 Pinto ,, ,,, 1 - 10 k€ Thames21 Project progress has been monitored in a number of ways: Through fixed point photography (FPP); Aerial drone footage; MoRPh surveys; Macroinvertebrate (RMI); Wildlife surveys to assess the reinstatement of native species. As most of the major restoration works were completed by Thames21 in the spring of 2023, BEPREP research at ‘time zero’ in a rewilded wetland started (report attached as supporting file). Sampling began in April 2023, with a second session in August of the same year; sampling will continue with two sessions in 2024. In addition, Thames21 are measuring the impact of the project on the local community by the number of participants in volunteering and other nature-related activities (e.g. nature walks, discussions, nature/art workshops). The aim is to achieve meaningful points of direct contact with at least 600 people including those from underrepresented communities (ethnic minorities and low-income groups). The effort to restore natural processes on the Rom is demonstrated by several indicators that are tracked and evaluated via surveys, anecdotal evidence, and media coverage. The Horizon funded BEPREP project, researches the effects of rewilding on improving health resilience. At the project site, biological indicators were measured both immediately after excavation and for five years post- restoration. The first few data points demonstrate that, especially the new wetland scrapes, have shown improved biological outcomes and shown which flora and fauna are settling at the site. Specific indicators include microbiota (bacteria and fungi) changes in the water (e.g. amphibians), on the land (e.g. soil, arthropods, vegetation, micromammals, canids) and in the air (e.g. bats, birds). This research will provide crucial information on which flora, fauna and microorganisms colonise and interact in newly excavated urban wetlands and is fundamental for the sustainable management of aquatic urban environments, and for understanding their importance to human health. The first few data points demonstrate that, especially the new wetland scrapes, have shown improved biological outcomes and shown which flora and fauna are settling at the site. We are using data from citizen science and observational monitoring, as well as advanced molecular analysis techniques (using environmental DNA) to measure the changes in macro and micro biodiversity of the restored wetlands and nearby forests (Report provided in the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section F1). Preliminary results already show arthropods, amphibians and reptiles colonising the new wetlands. Particularly noteworthy discoveries include molecular identification of faecal pellets from water voles, a nationally rare species. Records from Fixed Point Photography (FPP) provide a visual record of the changes that are taking place; comparison photos from before and after the restoration work effectively show how the Rom and its floodplain have changed. These images provide a good view of the project impacts through increased river-land interface connectivity and the instigation of natural processes. To ensure that large wood structures are performing their intended purpose, periodic assessments took place. The maintenance assessment included the characterisation of the structures in terms of stability and an assessment of material integrity and deterioration. After the large wood installation period, in December 2021, we carried out monthly visits for the first 6 months, and then bimonthly visits for the remainder of the first years. After this, we assessed the large wood every six months. Anecdotal feedback from local communities and stakeholders further reinforces the success of our restoration project. Through our regular volunteering events we gathered valuable insights from the community, from appreciation of improvements to habitat quality to new recreational opportunities, such as the use of the new bridge for bird watching. In addition, the dissemination of information about our project through news articles, videos, and interviews emphasised the beneficial effects of our restoration efforts on the RBI catchment area. 26879 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Environment Agency, Essex and Suffolk Water (Northumbrian Water), Kusuma Trust, Land of the Fanns, Thames Chase, Mayor of London 10 - 50 k€ Thames21 2024-07-31Z 2460522.5 Rom Deflector - YMCA v2.jpeg 2018-11-01Z 2458423.5 In progress The River Rom, south of Roneo Corner, is heavily degraded. Straightening has resulted in the river losing much of the natural flow and habitat diversity that is needed to support rich biodiversity. It has also resulted in the loss of much of the river’s connectivity to its floodplain. This means the Rom lacks many of the associated wetland habitats that would slow the speed of destructive floodwaters and support the area's biodiversity. The Rewilding the Rom project presented a rare opportunity to restore natural functioning to an urban river in London and in doing so, increase the rivers resilience to the compounding effects of climate change. Project aims are broadly fourfold; providing both offline and online flood storage, increasing resilience of downstream communities; diversifying the Chase Local Nature Reserves (LNR) habitat to support biodiversity; improving water quality of the Rom; and connecting communities to their river and environment. By providing these multiple benefits, this project demonstrates measures to address the biodiversity crisis are often closely intertwined with improving local communities' resilience to climate change. In 2021, Land of the Fanns Partnership Scheme funding facilitated the excavation of two seasonal wetlands (scrapes) on the Havering Side of the River Rom, in Grenfell Park to protect flood-prone properties downstream of the site. While the primary purpose of the scrapes is flood protection, they also provide habitats for flora and fauna. Flood modelling has been completed, showing that the scrapes, along with the other interventions, contribute to a reduction in flood risk to several downstream properties and the locally important Maylands Health Centre which currently serves 10% of Havering’s population. Subsequently, eleven large wood deflectors have been installed in the River Rom, and a tributary has been realigned with the goal of diversifying the flow within the channel. By restoring sedimentary processes, different habitats are created to support fish spawning, invertebrates and other riverine species. Visual inspections of the deflectors indicate that they are generating new erosional and depositional features. In 2022, Thames21 began work on the opposite bank at the Chase LNR. These works involved breaching a large flood embankment in three locations, behind which three interconnected wetland scrapes have been excavated. In high flows, the river now floods into this newly connected area of floodplain, creating an area of species-rich seasonal wetland. BEPERP, who are monitoring the Rom as part of their project, have found improvements in biological indicators already. Rewilding the Rom rewilding the rom http://www.thames21.org.uk/improving-rivers/rewilding-the-rom/ Yes 400 UK - Local Nature Reserve River Rom river rom Himalayan Balsam Japanese Knotweed water vole (Arvicola terrestris) 10 - 50 k€ Thames21 Flood risk management Habitat and biodiversity Monitoring Social benefits Water quality Urban 370000 GB106037028120 Rom (Bourne Brook to Ravensbourne) Water Body 50 - 100 k€ Thames21 2022-11-01Z 2459884.5 2020-01-01Z 2458849.5 2023-11-14T16:23:11Z 2460263.1827662 2024-02-26T11:14:11Z 2460366.9681829 Rewilding the Rom