Bradley Brook

The Bradley Brook runs along the northern perimeter of the site and acts as a ‘blue corridor’ to connect our site with Three Brooks LNR, Bradley Brook LNR and Monk’s Pool LNR.

We have been clearing Himalayan balsam from the riverbank, an invasive non-native plant that is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Himalayan balsam shades out other vegetation, gradually impoverishing habitats by killing off other plants. As an annual plant, Himalayan balsam dies back in the winter and, where the plant grows in river systems, can leave river banks bare of vegetation and liable to erosion. Each plant can produce up to 800 seeds. These are dispersed widely as the ripe seedpods shoot their seeds up to 7m away.

We are planning to make and deploy eel rope, an effective method to help critically endangered European eels over river barriers such as weirs and small dams. We will deploy the rope before April, ahead of active upstream migration.

https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB109053027570