Langley Brook

The main aim of the project is to improve the ecological health of the Langley Brook to create an environment in which wildlife are able to thrive. In order to do this, we will be working towards a number of project deliverables:

• Controlling populations of the invasive species Himalayan balsam to prevent excessive bank erosion and in-stream sediment load caused by balsam dieback in winter.
• Reprofiling and stabilising the banks of the brook by creating scrapes and installing planted coir matting, to allow flood water to enter the surrounding wet woodland, thereby increasing water storage capacity.
• Planting up the banks and cleared areas with reeds, rushes and other native perennial plants with strong, extensive root systems, which will help to improve biodiversity, trap sediment, slow down the river at its higher flows, and act as habitats for many animals.
• Inputting gravels into the river to compensate for the removal of material from the area in the past, which will form beneficial features in the river, improve the channel and create areas suitable for fish spawning.
• Placing woody debris within the brook which will create flow variation and build of existing features in the river channel.
• Carry out citizen science water quality sampling to obtain data on the quality of water in the brook, which will help promote experience and understanding of water quality issues within the community and will contribute to informing future work.

By completing these project activities, we will have improved 300m of the brook and 12,000 square metres of wet woodland adjacent to the river. With the right regime, there is also an additional area of brash which has the capacity to become beneficial wet woodland.

These works will also have considerable benefits downstream of the project site, through the Middleton Pool SSSI and into the river Tame.

The improvements to the Langley Brook will also set up a base for subsequent project to further restore this area, as well as other sections of the brook and surrounding wetlands. There is potential in the future to carry out exciting projects which would greatly benefit the local environment.

Keep an eye out on this page and our social media channels to find out about volunteering opportunities on this project.