River Cole: Historic floodplains to be restored

The ponds and pools are being created close to the main river channel so freshwater plants and animals can move between the two

Floodplains on a river running through a farmed estate are to be restored to create new freshwater and wetland habitats for wildlife.

A mosaic of ponds and wetlands are being created along the River Cole on the Coleshill estate which borders Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

The new ponds and pools will be about 1.4 hectares in size.

It is hoped the new areas will boost wildlife along the river, including wetland birds, otters and water voles.

The project is being run by the Freshwater Habitats Trust in partnership with the National Trust which owns the estate.

Water quality and levels will be monitored by the Freshwater Habitats Trust to see how the site responds to the new habitats.

The project will see a range of endangered freshwater and wetland plants introduced

David Morris, of Freshwater Habitats Trust, said: "We'll also be closely tracking species, particularly rare wetland plants, which we hope will recolonise the historic floodplains, on which they once thrived.

"These new habitats will transform the site and we expect to see a much more diverse range of wetland wildlife here over the coming months and years."

The National Trust is planning to run guided walks on the restored floodplain area which is farmed and grazed by cattle on the estate's private land on the west Oxfordshire border.

Richard Watson, of the National Trust, said: "Our ultimate aim is to create a wildlife corridor along the river starting in Swindon to where the River Cole joins the Thames at Lechlade.

"This floodplain restoration work is a key step towards that goal."

The project is being funded by the government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Floodplain wetland habitats are also being created in meadows next to Farmoor Reservoir.