What were the issues?
Two watercourses arise in the mire catchment of Buckherd Bottom and converge to form a single stream, which flows west into Roe Inclosure.
Previous work was carried out in 2012 to restore the eroding drains in the mire but the repairs became unstable because of a steep gradient at the transition point from mire to stream. As a result, there was active erosion occurring in the lower parts of the mire.
How did we fix them?
Previously, the bed levels of the two watercourses were raised as far as the confluence. The levels were then ‘ramped down’ to the existing bed level of the eroded stream channel as it entered Roe Inclosure.
Several techniques were used to improve the long-term stability of these watercourses. Meanders were created upstream of the confluence, which have helped to reduce the steepness of the gradient in each watercourse. We also raised the bed level of the channel between the meanders and infilled redundant sections of channel.
The vehicle track coming out of Roe Inclosure which crossed both streams was altered, the first crossing which was a concrete culvert, was replaced with a gravel ford, to ensure long-term stability of the restoration work.
Downstream of the confluence, we raised the bed level of the channel up to the Inclosure fence-line. Inside Roe Inclosure, several large debris dam structures were installed to support the raised bed levels upstream and help maintain the restoration in future.
Related documents
Buckherd Bottom restoration plan map
NB: The restoration work on this site was mostly all on the Open Forest, and was funded by HLS. The installation of debris dams within Roe Inclosure was paid for by the Forestry Commission’s core funding budget.