News

Community project to restore river habitat and reduce flood risk

The first initiative to be delivered is the re-meandering of the Burnt Oak Brook, a Silk Stream tributary
By Fran Di Fazio

Burnt Oak Brook (credit Thames21)
Burnt Oak Brook (credit Thames21)

A community river restoration project to improve local flood resilience is underway.

The ‘Action for Silk Stream’ project, named after the River Brent tributary flowing through Edgware, will engage the local community to restore the riverside area over five years.

Barnet Council is working in partnership with community river restoration charity Thames21, the Environment Agency, and private water providers and consultants.

Ruchi Sayal, project lead and the council’s flood risk manager, said: “The project looks forward to delivering a range of integrated nature-based solutions to manage the flood risk in this urban catchment, making space for water through innovative partnerships and methods of delivery while improving the quality of our rivers.”

The first initiative to be delivered is the re-meandering of the Burnt Oak Brook, a Silk Stream tributary in the Watling Park area. The existing straight channel will be reshaped into a more naturally curving form. A basin will be created to receive floodwater caused by extreme rainfall. Further design proposals include installing a surface waterpipe and creating wetland cells throughout the park, to deviate and absorb possible overflows.

The project has already reached over 1,200 local residents. Leading organisations have been raising awareness about river pollution and flooding risk to co-design solutions with local communities.

Sam Bentley-Toon, engagement manager at Thames21, said: “We think in order for these projects to be as successful as possible we need to incorporate the detailed knowledge about the sites that only people who live near them and visit them several times a week will have.”

More than 165,000 Londoners are exposed to flooding risk, which is increasing due to the climate crisis. River and wetlands restoration is a key strategy to manage water overflows. Restored river catchments, moreover, provide habitats for local wildlife conservation and become accessible green spaces for local communities.

Works in Watling Park should start in September 2023. Further community projects will be delivered over the following years. Proposals involving Lyndhurst Park and The Meads area will shortly be under development.

Meanwhile, Thames21 is pursuing new strategies to engage local people, including primary school students.

Chris Coode, deputy chief executive at Thames21, said: “We’ve been organising community river action days in parks with river-themed games that draw people in so we can speak to them about the project and its aims.

“We think it’s really important to find new ways to raise awareness of environmental issues so that we can reach all parts of the community.”


No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.

Donate now with Pay Pal

More information on supporting us monthly 

More Information about donations