The work in Watling Park aims to boost flood resilience, enhance water quality and provide new habitats for wildlife

Burnt Oak Brook in Watling Park (credit Thames 21)

Work has begun on a major initiative to “restore and improve” Burnt Oak Brook, which runs through Watling Park.

As part of the collaborative ‘Action for Silk Stream‘ improvement project, which also includes the Silk Stream’s tributary Burnt Oak Brook, the work aims to boost flood resilience, enhance water quality, provide new habitats for wildlife and create “beautiful blue/green spaces for local people to enjoy”.

Earlier this month water from the Burnt Oak Brook was diverted out of its original concrete channel and released into a new, more natural and meandering channel. The new channel will allow aquatic plants and animals to thrive and provide more space for water after large rainfall events.

“It was a great moment to see the river finding its way into the new channel for the first time,” said Helen Cardy, Thames21’s Action for Silk Stream engagement officer.

“Previously, the river was hidden in a deep concrete channel at the edge of park. Now, the river is a much more prominent feature and park users will be able to see and enjoy it.”

Action for Silk Stream is a six-year initiative that works with nature to reduce the risk of flooding in the Silk Stream catchment and wider River Brent. The project is led by Barnet Council and Harrow Council, with involvement from environmental charity Thames21. It is funded by Defra as part of the £150million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme which is managed by the Environment Agency to develop and test new approaches to resilience tailored to local communities.

By restoring rivers and creating wetlands at various locations across the catchment, Action for Silk Stream will increase the resilience of the catchment as a whole, allowing it to withstand extreme rainfall events and drought, which are increasing in frequency as a result of climate change.

Like many of London’s rivers, Burnt Oak Brook has been significantly modified over the last several centuries. They have been straightened, deepened and their banks have been reinforced, reducing their complexity, and their ability to support diverse communities of plants and animals. In addition, they receive inputs of pollution from several sources including sewage misconnections and road run-off.

Later in the spring, in a nearby part of the park, an underground surface water drain will be brought to the surface and sent through a chain of wetlands to remove pollution and create vital habitats for freshwater plants and animals.

Watling Park is also receiving wider improvements including the planting of more than 100 trees, a new community orchard, a new path network and enhanced children’s play equipment. Additional funding comes from City Hall and Barnet Council.

Local communities have been involved in the development of these schemes since the inception of the project in autumn 2021. Local knowledge and preferences have been incorporated into the designs through a series of co-design workshops and consultation events.

Volunteers have played a crucial role in the project: helping to clean-up the rivers, removing invasive species, gathering water quality data to guide action on pollution and helping to celebrate the Silk Stream and its tributaries.

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