In March 2017 we set about the first stage in an attempt to alleviate the flooding at The Heath, reduce the erosion of the banks to Littlestock Brook and clean up the water quality. This work was carried out in connection with a much larger scheme instigated by the Environment Agency to improve the water quality of the River Evenlode. The first stage was to introduce a series of woody dams. These hold back some water when the brook is in spate but their main role is to reduce the speed of the brook’s flow as it was this that was causing most of the erosion. It was literally scouring its way through the brook bed. 13 dams have been placed in the brook from near the Orchard upstream towards Grange Farm. Every year the folk at The Heath filled two large skips with stones and debris that had been washed down. Since the dams have been in place not even one skip has been filled so they appear to be working.
The second stage, which we are just embarking on, is to take further steps to prevent erosion and to clean up the quality of the water. The brook has scoured itself so far down that in places the banks are nearly 3 metres high. This is not only unsafe but is causing bank collapse. To prevent further erosion we have already re-graded the brook’s bank by the Orchard to a gentle slope and plan to plant willow along other parts of the bank edge where their roots will quickly go down into the soil and bind it together. In an attempt to clean up the water quality we plan to plant a new woodland. Trees have an enormous capacity to absorb water and whereas any impurities in the water, like phosphates and nitrates will not affect trees, they do pollute the water courses. Through this woodland we are laying a new path to create a circular path with the ridgeway from Grange Farm to Jubilee Lane.
All this comes at a cost. We are fortunate to be working with Wild Oxfordshire who are advising us and guiding us through this next stage. We have been successful in obtain funding from Thames Water who have given us a grant of £25,000. There are also smaller pots we can access for any overspend. The aim of the project was to be cost neutral to the Parish and so far we are on track. Where the Parish will need to invest is in the future upkeep of the woodland but these amounts are small in comparison and can be found within our annual budget.
March 16th will see the planting of the trees which will form the woodland. We would be delighted for anyone who is willing and able to help us in this mass tree planting project! The trees will initially be quite small, no bigger than 1m, but will grow into full size native woodland trees and there are about 200 that need planting! Please contact the Clerk for any further information or to sign up to volunteer you and your family or friends with the tree planting on Saturday 16th March!