River tributary reconnected to floodplain

It is hoped the restoration of the burn to its floodplain will have "major benefits" to wildlife

A project to restore a large section of a River Tyne tributary has been completed.

Tipalt Burn, near Haltwhistle, Northumberland, has been reconnected to its floodplain after the watercourse had been historically straightened and dredged to increase productivity of the surrounding land.

That resulted in worsening water quality, loss of a wildlife habitat and increased the risk of flooding to communities living downstream, the Tyne Rivers Trust charity said.

Now, the burn has been reconnected to its floodplain, meaning water will flow more slowly, reducing flood risk and improving water quality.

Trees have also been planted and ponds and wetlands created.

It is hoped the project, led by the charity, will once again provide a habitat for salmon and trout, as well as wetland areas for breeding waders such as curlew.

'Major benefits'

Tyne Rivers Trust chief scientist and technical director Jack Bloomer said the charity "worked with nature to restore the Tipalt Burn to how it used to be".

"The restoration of natural features will have major benefits for aquatic species, including Atlantic salmon and brown trout, as well as an array of other species that rely on these waters both in the river and on the wetlands."

The project cost £120,000 and was jointly funded by the Environment Agency's Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) and Northumbrian Water's South Tyne Holistic Water Management fund.