Severn Rivers Trust has completed a large-scale wetland habitat creation project within the Shropshire Hills National Landscape on the Linley Estate, located north of Bishop’s Castle. This project is part of the Teme Big Fish initiative and aims to restore and create habitats that support biodiversity, improve water quality, and contribute to natural flood management.
Project Details
The project transformed an arable field into a wetland system comprising a network of pools of varying depths, connected by a linear scrape. This design creates optimal conditions for amphibians and invertebrates, as well as foraging areas for ground-nesting birds. The wetland also serves to reduce sediment and pollutants entering nearby watercourses, enhancing water quality in the River Onny and its tributaries.
As a key tributary of the River Teme, the Onny holds ecological significance as one of Shropshire’s last remaining salmon rivers. This project contributes to the broader objectives of the Teme Big Fish initiative, which is funded by the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) and focuses on creating habitats that benefit fish populations across three estates within the catchment.
Environmental Benefits
The newly created wetland delivers several ecological and environmental benefits, including:
- Enhanced biodiversity: A diverse habitat for wetland and riparian species, supporting local ecosystems.
- Water quality improvements: The wetland acts as a natural filter, reducing sediment and pollutant transfer into downstream watercourses.
- Flood risk reduction: By storing water during heavy rainfall and slowing its flow, the wetland contributes to natural flood management and reduces downstream flooding risks.
Supporting the Onny Catchment
This project is part of a wider effort to restore the ecological health of the Onny catchment, enhancing its role within the River Teme system. It demonstrates how targeted habitat restoration can contribute to local nature recovery, improve the resilience of river systems, and benefit freshwater species, including salmon.
For more information about this project or the Teme Big Fish initiative, please contact Severn Rivers Trust.
