Nature Set to thrive as Ford Green Brook restoration creates new habitats

Nature restoration work at Ford Green Brook is set to begin on Monday 24 August, weather-dependent, with the project expected to take around five to six weeks.

The work will improve the brook and surrounding floodplain to support more wildlife and create a better space for people to enjoy, all without increasing flood risk.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and specialist environmental contractors will begin by preparing the area and carrying out final checks, including wildlife surveys and a fish rescue to safely move fish before work starts.

The project will create a range of new habitats to help plants and animals thrive. This includes digging shallow ponds, widening sections of the brook and reshaping parts of the channel to allow the water to flow in a more natural way.

These changes will create slower-moving water in some areas and deeper, faster sections in others. This variety is important for wildlife, helping different species to feed, shelter and breed. Features called riffles, shallow areas with stones that create movement in the water, will also be added to increase oxygen levels and improve conditions for fish and insects.

The work will begin in the north part of the brook and move south, helping teams manage water flow and protect wildlife as the project progresses.

Some trees will need to be removed to allow access for machinery. This work is planned to take place any time from week commencing the 10 August. As many trees as possible will be kept, and any that are removed will be reused to create habitats for wildlife. New growth is expected in the coming years, and the area will continue to develop over time. Ecologists will be on site to check for protected species, including birds and bats, before work begins.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Living Floodplains Manager, Victoria Bunter, says:
“We are so pleased to be able to bring real benefits to the wildlife that calls Ford Green Brook home. By creating a range of natural habitats, we’re making space for wildlife to thrive. It will also make the area a more interesting and enjoyable place for local people to visit and enjoy nature.”

A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesperson says:
"We're pleased to support this important project covering Ford Green Brook, which will bring lasting benefits for both wildlife and local people. By creating new wetland habitats and improving the natural river environment, we're helping to make the park a richer, more resilient place for nature to thrive. We know local people care deeply about their green spaces, and once established, these improvements will make Ford Green Brook an even better place to enjoy and connect with nature."

Careful planning and flood modelling have been carried out to make sure the work will not increase flood risk to nearby homes. The changes will help the brook function more naturally and support a healthier environment in the long term.

Once complete, the project will leave Ford Green Brook with a richer mix of wetland habitats, more wildlife, and a stronger, more resilient natural space for the future.

For more information, visit: https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/trent-renew

A view of a brook surrounded by reeds, fields, and green trees

Tamsin Harrison

An emperor dragonfly in flight, with an apple-green thorax and dazzling blue abdomen

Emperor dragonfly © Chris Lawrence

A brook with lush green foliage growing on the banks. I n the distant background are brick suburban homes.

Tamsin Harrison

Common frog © Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

A field off the side of a grass track with a tree line in the bakground,

Tamsin Harrison

©Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Editor's Notes

This work is carried out by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Environment Agency. The trust is working with Dynamic Rivers on the restoration work designs, with Ebsford Environmental Ltd for practical delivery.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, a registered charity, is the leading nature conservation body in Staffordshire. We have protected the wildlife and wild places of Staffordshire since 1969. We carry out conservation projects all over the county to protect and restore our special landscapes and wildlife. Our vision is to create a Staffordshire where nature thrives and inspires.

Working with partners and communities is a key part of our work to improve the wider landscape to make it a better place for wildlife. Bringing people and wildlife together in harmony is critical. We educate people on wildlife and create opportunities for people to get close to nature and feel inspired by their local wild places. Offering volunteering, educational and activities is a big part of our work.

Ebsford Environmental Ltd are specialist environmental contractors undertaking the river and floodplain restoration works on behalf of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Established in 2011, Ebsford has grown into a trusted UK contractor with extensive experience in watercourse restoration, habitat creation, invasive species management and blue-green infrastructure projects.

The company works across the UK with wildlife trusts, local authorities, water companies, landowners, civil engineering contractors and environmental consultants to provide practical, nature-based solutions in sensitive river and wetland environments.

For these schemes, Ebsford will bring its in-house experience of working in and around rivers, using low impact machinery, to carry out the works safely and sensitively, with a focus on improving habitat and restoring natural processes.

Dynamic Rivers

is a specialist fluvial consultancy driven by a passion for restoring and naturalising the freshwater environment. Drawing on decades of combined experience in geomorphology, hydrology, hydraulics and ecology, the team operates an ethos of research-driven, applied science to deliver sustainable, environmentally sensitive solutions to river and floodplain issues. From high-resolution 2D survey and flow and rainfall modelling through to naturalisation design and on-the-ground delivery, Dynamic Rivers works with natural processes rather than against them, reconnecting rivers with their floodplains, restoring ecological function and building more resilient, self-sustaining systems. The company's work has earned some of the sector's highest honours, including UK and European River Prizes. With an excellent reputation for delivery, Dynamic Rivers has transformed rivers and floodplains across the UK, working alongside a trusted network of partners and contractors to bring nature recovery to life.

Environment Agency

We work to create better places for people and wildlife, and supports sustainable development. Established in 1996, we have over 13,000 employees. Our head office is in Bristol with bases across England. Our expert staff are regulators, reformers, engineers, ecologists, inspectors and incident responders. We play a vital role in supporting the government’s growth mission while protecting the environment we all depend on. We are modernising and embracing new tools and technology to improve our environment and tackle pollution head on.