Trent ReNEW

Work has started at Ford Green Brook as part of the Trent ReNEW project. The work will create more space for wildlife and help make the area even better for local people to enjoy. 

Over the coming weeks, specialist contractors will carry out improvements to help the brook flow more naturally and create better habitats for wildlife.

The project will create new ponds, widen parts of the brook and add areas of shallow, fast-flowing water known as riffles. These changes will help a wider range of wildlife, including insects, amphibians, fish and birds.

One of the most exciting parts of the project is the creation of new wetland habitats across the floodplain. Wetlands provide important places for wildlife to feed, breed and find shelter. The new ponds will have a range of water depths, creating homes for different species and making the area richer in wildlife.

Some trees may need to be removed so machinery can safely access the site. Any timber from these trees will be reused on the site to create habitats for insects, amphibians and other wildlife.

The park will remain open while work takes place, although visitors may see temporary safety barriers preventing access to some areas. Once finished, this work will result in a healthier brook, better habitats for wildlife and an even more attractive green space for local people to enjoy for years to come.

Nature restoration work is starting at Ford Green Brook on Monday 24 August, depending on weather. Specialist environmental contractors will be preparing the area. We will be conducting pre work checks and wildlife surveys, including a fish rescue. 

The work we do will improve the river and floodplain habitat for biodiversity, without impacting flood risk. Improving the variety of habitats will encourage more wildlife to live here, making the park an exciting place to visit. The work will begin in the northern part of the brook and move south. We expect the work to take about five weeks to complete. 

Making ponds 

We will create more ponds which are a vital part of making a diverse floodplain that helps wildlife survive during droughts. Ponds will be shallowly excavated with a rough finish resulting in a range of water depths that gives the best potential for biodiversity. Different species will use the depths to hunt or hide, depending on their needs. For example, dragonfly nymphs have different needs than lesser water boatmen.

Channel infilling and widening

Channel widening is where we will take the brook’s bank back to make the brook wider. This is done in key locations and is planned by river experts called Fluvial Geomorphologists. The widening will change how fast the water moves along the channel.  
 
Where the brook is wider, water will move slower. This helps juvenile fish and invertebrates (creatures without spines, like bugs and crayfish). It also changes the movement of water upstream and downstream to create different conditions for a wider variety of species to live in this area. Infilling areas of the brook will help the water to create new, more natural paths that meander around the valley. This will increase the amount and variety of habitats.

Riffles 

We will add riffles in several key locations along the brook. Riffles are where rocks and pebbles on a shallow riverbed create turbulence in the water. This feature looks like a bumpy water surface, sometimes with stones breaking the water surface. The feature changes with the flow of the water needing a swift current but relatively shallow depth. Riffles help improve oxygen in the water which will be healthier for wildlife that lives in the brook. 

Tree removal 

Before work can properly begin, we need to remove some trees so that machinery can get to the area to complete the work. This is planned for any time from the week commencing 10 August. We will keep as many trees as we can, and we expect some saplings to grow in the gaps over the next few years. Felled trees will be used to make more habitat. Our ecologists will be on site to check for nesting birds and bats before the work starts. We will ask the Environment Agency to approve our work, once we have done all the necessary checks. Our contractors are specialists in carrying out wetland engineering and are experienced in river conservation work. 

FAQ

Q1. Why are you cutting down trees, isn’t that bad for nature?  

A1. While we don’t want to cut down trees for no reason, there are times when the environmental benefits of the work we plan outweighs the loss of the trees we need to remove to do the work. This is one of those times. We will be keeping the woody material from any trees that need to be removed. We will use this to make valuable habitat for frogs and insects. The plans need to be approved by the Environment Agency before we can do this. In addition, our ecologist will check for wildlife before works start to make sure it’s safe for people and nature to go ahead.  

Q2. How will this work help nature?  

A2. The work we do here will help improve river and floodplain habitats. It will shape the land to create the ideal conditions for wetland plants to grow better and make places for floodplain species to live, eat, and breed.  

Q3. Will this work increase flood risk to homes nearby?  

A3. No. Before we can do this work we need to complete flood models to show the Environment Agency that what we have planned will not increase flood risk. The work requires a Flood Risk Activity Permit or “FRAP”. We also need approval from the city council. This is called “permitted development status”.  

Q4. What will happen to all the earth you excavate?  

A4. The earth we remove to make ponds and widen the brook and lake will be spread in a thin layer across the existing grass on-site to make a river terrace. We will then roll it to make an even surface and allow it to naturally regenerate. There may be a short amount of time where this area is bare, it will soon green up and blend back in with the park’s floodplain meadow.    

Q5. Are you working in the ponds on the north end of Ford Green Brook?

A5. No. While we will be adding woody material in the northern part of the brook (as far north as the junction for Coates Place and Cumberbatch Ave, we will not be working in the two ponds just south of the Biddulph Road roundabout.  

Q6. What is a fish rescue, and why are you doing it? 

A6. A fish rescue is when we safely catch fish before work starts and move them to another suitable part of the brook. This protects them while machinery is in the water and helps reduce harm to wildlife during construction.

Q7. Will the park stay open during the work? 

A7. The park will stay open. However, there may be temporary closures or clearly marked areas to keep people safe while work is taking place. We ask visitors to follow safety signs and give contractors space to work.

Exciting news! We're in the process of planning improvement works on Ford Green Brook and its floodplain.

Please find attached our works announcement which will be post physically around Ford Green Brook in the coming week as well as in local publications soon. 

The Trent ReNEW enhancements will improve the biodiversity within the brook and floodplain. The changes will create new wetlands as well as variety in the current habitats which will support a greater array of species, without impacting flood risk in the surrounding area. 

Channel infilling and widening will help reconnect the brook with its floodplain. The brook channel will be completely infilled at strategic locations. The infilling ‘resets’ the river, giving water a chance to form new paths with interesting meanders, shallows, and pools. This will increase the amount and variety of habitats.

Creating riffles is done through adding gravels into the channel. The shaping and mix of gravels hold back some water, creating a pool upstream with a shallow flow navigating its way over the gravels. Riffles oxygenate the water as the water bubbles over its surface supporting riffle beetles and breeding fish.

This work is in collaboration with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Environment Agency and builds on previous work which removed a weir in the channel. 

All planned conservation work is subject to approvals and successful permits.

Exciting improvements for wildlife have been completed at Bucknall Park as part of the Trent ReNEW project. 

Over the past few weeks, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has worked with the Environment Agency and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to improve parts of the River Trent and its floodplain. The changes will make the area better for wildlife and create even more opportunities for local people to enjoy nature. 

The project has created new ponds, widened parts of the river and improved the way the river connects with its floodplain. Together, these changes have created a range of wetland habitats that will support more wildlife throughout the year. 

As plants begin to grow and the area settles, visitors may start to see more dragonflies around the ponds, as well as a greater variety of birds, fish and amphibians. The new ponds will provide important places for wildlife during dry weather, while calmer sections of river will give creatures space to feed, rest and shelter. 

Natural materials, including logs and branches, have been placed and secured in and around the ponds. This provides extra habitat for insects, amphibians and other wildlife. A short section of footpath has been moved to make room for the new habitats, while keeping the park accessible for visitors. It now forms a small loop, making a circular route. 

Bucknall Park is already an important green space for local people, and these improvements will help it become even better for wildlife. Over the coming months and years, the area will continue to develop into a richer wetland landscape, giving people more chance to experience nature close to home. 

Nature restoration work is due to start at Bucknall Park on Monday 17 August, with tree work to create access due to start any time from 27 July. This is depending on weather. Specialist environmental contractors, Ebsford Environmental LTD, will be preparing the area for work, and we will be conducting pre work checks and wildlife surveys. 

The work we do will improve the river and floodplain habitat for biodiversity, without impacting flood risk. Improving the variety of habitats will encourage more wildlife to live here, making the park an exciting place to visit. We expect this work to take about three weeks to complete.   

Making a chute and ponds 

The chute is where a channel reconnects with a former section of river. This creates another path for water and increases the amount of river habitat for aquatic plants and invertebrates. We will create more ponds which are a vital part of making a diverse floodplain that helps wildlife survive during droughts. Ponds will be shallowly excavated with a rough finish resulting in a range of water depths that gives the best potential for biodiversity. Different species will use the depths to hunt or hide, depending on their needs. For example, dragonfly nymphs have different needs than lesser water boatmen.   

This work is in collaboration with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Environment Agency and builds on previous work which removed a weir in the channel. Removing the weir has allowed fish to swim freely upstream to breed. 

Channel widening 

Channel widening is where we will take the riverbank back to make the river wider. This is done in key locations and is planned by river experts called Fluvial Geomorphologists. It will change how fast the water moves along the channel. Where the river is wider, water will move slower. This helps juvenile fish and invertebrates (creatures without spines, like bugs and crayfish). It also changes the movement of water upstream and downstream to create different conditions for a wider variety of species to live in this area.  

Trees and footpath removal 

As part of our work at Bucknall Park we are removing a small section of curved footpath to increase wetland habitat near the river. The conservation work will bring the river closer to the main path and include a variety of shallow pools and small islands for otters to rest and make places for insects like dragonflies to eat.  

Using the same length and type of path, we will instead extend the existing footpath to the bench.  

We may need to remove some trees so that machinery can get to the area to complete the work. This will be done before the works during the week commencing 27 July. We will keep as many trees as we can, and we expect some saplings to grow in the gaps over the next few years. We will also replace felled trees with native tree species. Felled trees will be used to make more habitat. Our ecologists will be onsite to check for nesting birds and bats before the work begins. We will ask the Environment Agency to approve our work, once we have done all the necessary checks. Our contractors are specialists in carrying out wetland engineering and are experienced in river conservation work. 

FAQ  

Q1. Why are you removing the new footpath?  

A1. The Environment Agency has asked us to carry out the river conservation work at Bucknall Park.  We have spoken to Trent Rivers Trust and committed to replace the path in a slightly different place, so that local people can still enjoy the benefit of the path.    

Q2. Will it be harder to see the river wildlife?  

A2. No, we’re removing the short stretch of footpath in order to bring the river closer to the main path and make more habitat for wildlife. So people using the path will still be able to enjoy the river at a reasonable distance.  

Q3. Why are you cutting down trees, isn’t that bad for nature?  

A3. While we don’t want to cut down trees for no reason, there are times when environmental benefits of the work we plan outweighs the loss of the trees we need to remove to do the work. This is one of those times. We will be keeping the woody material from any trees that need to be removed. We will use this to make valuable habitat for frogs and insects. The plans need to be approved by the Environment Agency before we can do this. In addition, our ecologist will check for wildlife before works start to make sure it’s safe for people and nature to go ahead.   

Q4. How will this work help nature?  

A5. The work we do here will help improve river and floodplain habitats. It will shape the land to create the ideal conditions for wetland plants to grow better and make places for floodplain species to live, eat, and breed.    

Q6. Will this work increase flood risk to homes nearby?  

A6. No. Before we can do this work, we need to complete flood models to show the Environment Agency that what we have planned will not increase flood risk. The work requires a Flood Risk Activity Permit or “FRAP”. We also need approval from the city council. This is called “permitted development status”. The work will also take pressure off the opposite side of the river near people’s homes; making it more likely for water to come into the park during times of high water, instead of people’s properties.   

Q7. What will happen to all the earth you excavate?  

The earth we remove to make ponds and widen the river will be spread in a thin layer across the existing grass on-site to make a river terrace. We will then roll it to make an even surface and reseed it with grass. There may be a short amount of time where this area is bare, it will soon green up and blend back in with the park’s floodplain meadow.    

Exciting news! We are announcing our work plans for Bucknall Park next week in The Stoke Sentinel and Staffordshire Newsletter. You can read our notice of work below and look at our map (above), to see what we have planned. 

In a nutshell, we're going to make some ponds, adding in woody material to make homes for insects and frogs. We'll also widen the river. This will help make space for younger fish to rest and older fish to lay eggs. The soil we move from the river will be spread to make a low terrace which will green over. 

We'll have to move a small bit of footpath to do this river work, but we will reinstall the same amount that needed to be removed, placing it so it leads up to an existing bench to provide better access.

Things are moving, but this work is subject to approval from Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY  

ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION NOT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT  

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999 No. 1783 (As amended) 

Bucknall Park (River Trent), Stoke on Trent, Restoration Works 

The Environment Agency gives notice that its authorised delivery partner, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, proposes to carry out improvement works on the River Trent and its floodplain, NGR upstream reference SJ 89858 47630 and downstream reference  SJ 89880 47326, a distance of 0.3 kilometres. Restoration Works are due to be carried out between 15^th June and 30^th September 2026, weather permitting and will last for a several weeks.  

The project will involve a number of interventions targeted towards improving habitats and biodiversity, such as: 

1. Changing the river channel profile by widening it to promote natural processes and better support aquatic species.
2. Pond creation in the floodplain providing a greater range of freshwater habitats.
3. Addition of large woody material to the ponds to add habitat diversity and refugia for species.
4. Creation of a river valley terrace with the excess spoil.
5. Relocation of a small section of footpath to accommodate river widening. 

These interventions have been flood modelled, are subject to an Environment Agency Flood Risk Activities Permit and  landowner consent from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The interventions should not change access to the site after completion and do not pose an increased risk to nearby residents or businesses. Additional information about the planned work can be found https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/trent-renew.  

The Environment Agency considers that the improvement works are not likely to have significant effects on the environment due to the method and timing of the works and does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of them.  

Any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed improvement works should do so, in writing, to the address specified below, within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.  

Vicki Liu – Catchment Co-ordinator, Environment Agency, Beacon House, University Court Technology Park, Stafford ST18 0GU 

On 15 January 2026 the project team visited Bucknall park to review plans and make comments on the designs proposed by the contractors carrying out the work. More information will be coming soon.

All planned conservation work is subject to approvals and successful permits.

Adding further in-channel enhancements to the work done on the site through the SUNRISE Project in 2020 to re-naturalise the river. New proposals build on the previous interventions and include the creation of further backwaters, chutes, riffles, and the addition of large woody material into the floodplain. These will further add to the variety of habitat niches available to aquatic wildlife.

We have a set of proposed designs that are currently being investigated for their feasibility for deliver before being submitted for permitting.

All planned conservation work is subject to approvals and successful permits.

Backwaters are parts of the river with little or no current. These can be a branch off from the main river channel or areas behind large obstructions in the channel. Natural backwaters in the floodplain can be created as the river changes path and the old channel stays connected but is now still.

Berms, in the context of rivers, are a raised area along the bank formed by deposition. They are generally found on the inside of a bend where the river slows and can be made of different materials. These are dynamic mobile features shaped by the flow of water and can progress into stable benches or erode down to a bar.

Chutes are areas that direct a portion of the main river flow into the floodplain. They are created by lowering the bank and ground level – the gradient going from the river summer levels to surrounding ground level. This improves the function of the floodplain.

Floodplain awareness is engaging with the public about river processes and floodplains to increase knowledge, understanding of changes and manage expectations. Engagement can cover a range of activities from meeting with local residents, posting on social media to creating and sharing educational resources.

Floodplain meadows are grasslands found on floodplains with grasses and wildflowers that are adapted to wetter occasionally flooded ground. They are a historical habitat type that is traditionally managed with cattle, which have disappeared in areas due to nutrient pollution and land use change.

Reedbeds are transitional habitats dominated almost exclusively by common reed. They can be found in floodplains and at the edges of open water. Within a reedbed there can be a lot of microhabitats as the reeds transition from standing in water to damp and seasonally flooded areas.

The process of changing the river route to add in natural meanders. The scale of this action can depend on available land and land features. Rivers have been historically straightened for a variety of reasons, changing their dynamics and reducing the amount of wetland habitats.

Riffles are where rocks and pebbles on a shallow river bed create turbulence in the water. This feature looks like a bumpy water surface, sometimes with stones breaking the water surface. The feature changes with the flow of the water needing a swift current but relatively shallow depth.

Timber jams are when woody material has fallen and become lodged across a river channel. These can be found anywhere along a river channel and can be man-made or naturally created out of a mix of woody material. The amount of material in the jam and locations can change with changing flows of water.

Weirs are man-made structures used to control the flow of water by creating an overtopping dam. Removing a weir is taking out the artificial structure and returning the channel to a more natural flow dynamic. This action must be assessed on a case-by-case basis but can permanently improve a channel for nature.

Willow trees that are found within the river channel with roots into the river bed. These can be seen in areas where willows are established along the riverbanks and generally on shallow riverbed areas. The islands change as the willow grows.