In late July of 2009, in ground undisturbed since the last Ice Age, Southwest Community Woodlands , with the help of a large digger created a 'loop', drawing water from the main burn through a series of channels, pools and cascades and eventually returning to the burn via shallow wetland margins. The concept was sketched out by Robin Ade after Ed had done some exploratory digging.

The inlet is arranged in such a way that, even at lowest water levels, a Stoneware pipe allows water through into the new works, but never more than a third of the burn's flow, and in times of higher burn flows, a secondary surface channel allows more water through.

In full spates, the burn overflows the inlet dam, so that water flows in the new works vary with conditions, mimicking a natural system.

The inlet channel cascades down through several pools

to a dam over which it falls about sixteen inches into the main pond. Fish were seen leaping/feeding regularly in the evenings in the Summer of 2011

Looking down the the main pond from atop the sand martin bank toward outlet cascades, a medium pool and shallow burnlet which lead to the

lower ponds as seen from the bank outside the roadside beeches, with fourteen year old ashes and oaks in the foreground.

spreading wetland (to the left) and the shallow side inlet to the still pond on the right.

The still pond is connected to the main flow only via a shallow inlet, and thus has relatively little exchange of water, and is already (December 2011) showing considerable rooted plant life. Fish (confirmed to be native brown trout) have been seen since early Summer 2011.

The flow then spreads out into a wet area dominated by watercress, meadowsweet and willow, returning eventually to the main burn by diverse channels. (View ~ESE from the sand martin bank above the still pond.)

Inlet and flow control
The main inlet pipe occasionally gets obstructed with leaves and rubbish and requires a poke-through with a walking stick (or the willow rod left lying nearby)
The secondary inlet also rewards checking for blockage.
The weir seems about right.
Further turfing of the inlet dam will improve its stability.

Levels
Levels of the dam pool and main pond have been raised as much as practical and the dams reinforced.
The pool before the still pond might be raised if it were thought desirable.

Dam pool
The dam overflowing into the main pond has been backed up with clay, turfs, and other suitable vegetation which should take root and consolidate.
Presently it also has an accumulation of watercress torn loose and carried down in a recent spate.
Willow cuttings put in at the south end of the dam have taken.
The area on the North side of the dam pool serves as an overflow/seepage area and will probably remain semi-permanently damp with appropriate vegetation.
Perhaps foot traffic here should be minimised?

Sand martin banks

The banks beside the main pond and still pond will probably need two more years for the turf along their tops to consolidate sufficiently, after which consideration to cutting them steeper and possibly providing some pilot holes will be needed.

Wildlife
Water boatmen, Caddis flies, butterfflies, dragonflies, damselflies, tadpoles, frogs and toads, dippers and other birdlife, deer, trout(?) and diving beetles have been noted. Someone put two goldfish in the main pond, but they haven't been seen for some time.

Vegetation
Only Ox-eye daisies and watercress have been imported, the rest of the emergent and submerged vegetation being locally native species from the persistent seed bank, with the possible exception of ragwort, which should be removed. The water hemlock could also possibly be minimised and controlled in the new waterways, but extermination in the original watercourses would be impracticable.
The watercress has shown a rather invasive character, and may (or may not) need controlling at some future time.
There are two osiers between the original burn and the still pond from cuttings stuck in some years back. They should perhaps be pollarded or even removed entirely, and nearby, originating from a discarded raft, there's a patch of willow in the edge of the still pond... The sunken raft provides shelter for fish, etc. and is probably a mass of rootletsunderneath.

Various fruit trees and some oak, hazel and hawthorn have been planted in appropriate places, including oaks on the back of the large sand martin bank.
The level of flow into the lower outflow has been raised so that the lower area of knotweed is much wetter, and more willow cuttings around the lower edge of the knotweed area should help to surround and contain it. Perhaps some of the numerous beech seedlings to be found under the roadside beeches might be planted into the knotweed patch to eventually shade it out.
Although not strictly a local native, beech is already present in that corner, and a few more wouldn't do any harm, especially if they actually beat the knotweed. The meadow area above the new inlet channel and between the burn and the road should be monitored to ensure that bracken doesn't spread into the meadowsweet areas.

Pathways and access
Pathways are being kept relatively clear by strimming once annually in July and by foot traffic. Some were strimmed a second time in October 2011
A path along the main burn downstream leading towards the still pond will probably be worth strimming (or scything?) next Summer, but it is presently being worn by foot and deer traffic.
Easy access is now available from under the roadside beeches,
Taking down a section of dyke at the extreme East corner (above the knotweed) would provide limited and unobtrusive vehicle parking with safe exit/entry sight lines under the large beech.

Return to North Glen or Reading List or Credo