Barnes Green river restoration improves flood resilience and creates new wildlife habitats

The Beverley Brook at Barnes Green is now bursting with healthy new wildlife habitats, following river restoration work to boost flood resilience in the area as part of the Community BlueScapes programme.

The brook now flows along a more natural, meandering river channel, with a new island to explore via an accessible footbridge. The riverbanks have been improved, and new trees and wildflowers planted.

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, said: “It’s been wonderful to see the project come to life, with the bridge and island now open for everyone to explore and enjoy.

"It's a lovely place to connect with nature. We're already seeing more fish in the brook and damselflies darting above the water. Not only do we have a beautiful space for people and wildlife to enjoy for years to come, we've also increased the capacity of the Beverley Brook to respond to heavy rainfall. I'm grateful to members of the community who've championed this project, which has been a fantastic team effort.

“It's a great example of how working together with nature, we can deliver practical benefits for our communities and our environment.”

The Barnes Green River Restoration project is one of Community BlueScapes’ key projects, forming part of a wider programme of nature-based solutions designed to improve flood resilience across the Beverley Brook catchment.

Community BlueScapes is a Defra-funded flood resilience partnership between Richmond Council, Barnes Common Ltd and WWT – the charity for wetlands and wildlife. This project is part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

Find out more about the Barnes Green River Restoration Project.