Numerous partners and landowners have contributed to the 2-year project, which is being overseen by the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group Southwest (FWAG).
Together, they have sought to pinpoint and enhance the locations where sediment and nutrients are negatively affecting the watercourse. The Water Environment Investment Fund of the Environment Agency provided £30,000 for the project.
Overlooking the Dorset communities of Dewlish and Cheselbourne, the Devils Brook rises in the chalk hills, then flows south to join the Piddle. It is a significant nursery and spawning stream for wild trout and sea trout.
Techniques to “slow the flow,” such as planting trees and hedges, sediment traps, buffer strips, and additional wetland areas, have decreased losses to rivers, improving the water quality.
There has been a noticeable rise in Ranunculus growth when portions of the watercourse have been fence-lined off and a buffer strip prevents animals from accessing. This robust vegetation maintains water levels and provides crucial protection for fish and aquatic animals.
Project manager Luke Kozak from the Environment Agency stated:
The initiative has already enhanced the riparian and in-stream ecosystem as well as the water quality by working with natural processes.
With the help of our support, FWAG has been able to interact with partners and landowners, leading to some amazing outcomes and outstanding examples of collaborative working.
We now intend to improve chalk streams throughout Dorset using the knowledge we’ve gathered from the Devils Brook project.
The partners in the initiative are the Dorset County Council, Wild Trout Trust, Wessex Water, and local landowners.