'Stage Zero' has arrived in Britain. Here's what that meansIt may sound like something from a dystopian movie, but 'Stage Zero' has just created...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
It may sound like something from a dystopian movie, but 'Stage Zero' has just created a paradise.
Holnicote Estate in Somerset
Daniel Graham
Published: October 19, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Something remarkable is happening in a quiet corner of Somerset in south-west England: the creation of an Eden. And it's all thanks 'Stage Zero' – or 'Stage 0' – an innovative river restoration technique originally developed in Oregon, USA.
A year after completing an ambitious Stage Zero project on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset, rangers say the site is unrecognisable.
“It has gone bananas in terms of the amount of wildlife and lush vegetation growth that we’ve seen," says Holnicote Estate ranger Jack Siviter. But it's not just nature that has benefited from the project – the work has improved water quality and reduced flood risk for downstream communities, too.
Stage 0 site on the Holnicote Estate
Rangers sowed and planted a variety of plants and wildflowers suitable for wetlands, which are now thriving at the Stage Zero site on the Holnicote Estate/National Trust Images (View It 360)
The objective for the Holnicote team was to reconnect a 1.2km section of the River Aller – the estate's main watercourse – to its natural floodplain. The process involved filling in a straightened, artificially deepened stretch of the river, transforming the area into a thriving seven-hectare wetland – roughly the size of ten football fields.
Wetlands are critical habitats, not only for their biodiversity but also for their ability to store water, reduce flood risk and capture carbon. Yet, more than 90% of the UK’s wetlands have been lost over the past century, contributing to the decline of many freshwater species. By restoring the natural dynamics of the River Aller, the Holnicote project has provided a powerful example of how we can begin to reverse this trend.
Despite facing England’s wettest 18 months on record shortly after completion, the restored floodplain proved its worth.
It absorbed floodwaters, slowed their flow, and reduced downstream flood risks, safeguarding local communities. “We had just the worst winter you can imagine post restoration in terms of the number of storms and sheer volume of rain," says Ben Eardley, the National Trust’s project manager. "The site responded really well... demonstrating the value of the restoration in providing resilience to hydrological extremes.”
A sparrowhawk surveys its hunting grounds at Holnicote Estate/National Trust Images (Richard Bradshaw)
Researchers from several universities, including Exeter, Nottingham and Umeå in Sweden, have been closely monitoring the site. Their findings are impressive. Groundwater levels have risen significantly, in some places by over a metre, turning the floodplain into a vast, natural sponge that stores water during floods and releases it gradually in dry periods. This not only helps mitigate droughts but also filters sediments and pollutants, improving water quality downstream.
The restoration has also brought a burst of life to the river system. “There is a huge variety of plants and trees starting to shoot up across the wetlands, such as greater tussock sedge, which can grow to over two metres tall," says Siviter. "This will provide a rich landscape for wildlife to thrive within.
SOURCE: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/environment/stage-zero-restoration
Taxonomy
- Restoration
- River Restoration
- Stream Restoration
- Ecosystem Restoration
- restoration ecologist