Work was carried out in October and November 2020 to create a more meandering course for the Misbourne together with a wetland area, in the stretch between the A413 bypass and Quarrendon Mill. The aim is to restore the Misbourne to have more natural chalk stream characteristics and improve the habitat for wildlife. Currently the new river course is bedding in and there is some flooding due to high groundwater water levels and the channel not yet establishing itself. Around April time work will resume to seed the grazing field area and plant the berms (river banks) to green up the currently bare soil. Two cattle crossing points have been constructed and when ground conditions permit, stock fencing will be installed along the river banks to prevent livestock eroding the river banks while still having full access to the field. The straight stretch of river in the arable fields before Quarrendon Mill will not be fenced and will continue to be a water source for wildlife in the area. We look forward to seeing, by Summer, an attractive setting and the ‘new’ Misbourne providing a habitat for plants and invertebrates which do not establish in a faster flowing channel.
More information on this project can be found here