Image description: A river flowing past lush green banks and under a bridge in the distance
The Environment Agency is delivering the Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme (FRMS), which will provide improved flood protection for around 5,000 homes and businesses.
While Ribble Rivers Trust is not directly responsible for constructing the defences, the Trust is supporting the scheme by delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and ensuring that the project creates wider benefits for nature as well as people.
As a result, a network of new wetlands, hedgerows, and woodlands has now reportedly transformed land in the Ribble Valley.
Ribble Valley “transformed” by BNG offsets
As part of the scheme, some trees had to be removed to make way for the new engineered flood defences.
To offset these losses, Ribble Rivers Trust has transformed Fishwick Bottoms on the banks of the River Ribble into a new riverside woodland.
Over the past year, Ribble Rivers Trust has planted 11,800 native trees along a 2km stretch of the Ribble at Fishwick Bottoms, roughly 12 new trees for every one removed during engineering works.
The site has also benefited from 1,200 metres of new livestock fencing and access gates to reduce erosion and protect habitats, with six specially designed drinking areas ensuring livestock can still access clean water without damaging the banks.
Invasive non-native plants have been removed, and a new net-zero, rapid-setting concrete has been used for gate installations to reduce environmental impact.
Long term benefits
This woodland will deliver lasting ecological benefits by providing habitat for insects, mammals, and bird species. It will also improve water quality by filtering out sediments and pollutants before they reach the Ribble, and support migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and European eel. Coarse fish such as chub, dace, roach, and barbel will also benefit.
Woodlands also play a vital role in Natural Flood Management (NFM). As the trees grow, their roots will break up compacted soils, allowing rainfall to soak into the ground rather than running straight into rivers.
During storms, the woodland will help slow the flow of water and reduce flooding pressures downstream, complementing the new engineered defences.
Most of the tree planting is now complete, with the final touches being added using coir mulch mats at the base of each tree.