River Habitat Improvement at Blenheim Palace

Amenity Water Management Ltd

River Habitat Improvement at Blenheim Palace

Years of over dredging and consequent deepening had left this stretch of the River Evenlode at Blenheim Palace with reduced biodiversity including a very low fish population.

AWM were contracted by the Environment Agency to import stone of different sizes and form a series of riffles and bars in the river.

The construction of these features will kickstart the return of lost natural features in the river and improved health and biodiversity will follow.

Sedimats are sunk and set across the river to capture disturbed sediment during the works.

Stone is loaded into tracked dumpers for transport through the river.

The three different sizes of stone are delivered.

The stone is then tipped at the locations of the features in the meadow.

Nearside features are formed with a standard reach excavator.

The features on the far bank are formed using a long reach excavator.