Beauty spot to close for weeks due to erosion

The popular site will become "a fun and popular place to paddle", Forestry England said

A beauty spot will be closed for three weeks so damage caused by erosion can be repaired.

Wenchford in the Forest of Dean will close from 1 September after the lower weir steps partially collapsed, Forestry England said on Wednesday.

To tackle the damage, steps in the upper and lower weirs will be removed and the steam bed modified to prevent future erosion.

Forestry England said Wenchford will be "a fun and safe place to paddle" following the works, with a larger beach area, stepping stones and more stable stonework.

Blackpool Brook will be temporarily dammed and rerouted during the works, with the width of the channel due to be narrowed permanently.

Forestry England said: "Rebuilding it in its current form has been considered, but it is not the best course of action for the fish that live in this water course.

"Species such as eel, lamprey, trout and bullhead currently struggle to move upstream across the weirs."

The weirs at Wenchford were originally built in the late 19th Century, although it is uncertain what they were constructed for.

"It has long been thought the weirs were in some way connected to the Blakeney furnace but historical records don't support this theory," Forestry England added.