Cinderford Brook Habitat Enhancements, Severn Rivers Trust

This is a project to restore the natural processes in the Cinderford Brook by strategically installing boulders and stones.

The Cinderford Brook in the Forest of Dean suffers from low flows due to over abstraction and modifications from historic coal mining. This impacts resident and migratory fish and invertebrates which are crucial for a healthily functioning river catchment. This project will restore natural processes by strategically installing boulders and cobble stones into the channel using a crane and steel pins, raising the water level, creating pool-riffle sequences and promoting sediment storage.

A first phase of the project was delivered in 2024 to install boulders in the brook. Originally SRT avoided using fixings to attach boulders to the channel to minimise any impacts to the stonework. However, since installation some of the stone and boulders have been washed out in areas where water velocities became exceptionally high during Storm Bert (Noc 2024). This second phase, funded by ECT, seeks to build upon last year’s habitat improvements by replacing and securing boulders where these have been displaced.

The primary benefit of the project is to increase biodiversity in the brook by restoring natural processes in the heavily modified channel. The area will benefit from improved fish passage, greater in-stream habitat, increased diversity and abundance of fish and aquatic invertebrates which will have a knock-on benefit for birds that feed on the riparian wildlife and the potential to attract otters to the brook. The local community will benefit through the enhancement of the Blue Rock Trail which is a popular walking route for residents and visitors. The amenity value of the trail will increase due to the restoration of the natural flows in the brook which has, for many years, been stagnant and unattractive. The sight and sounds of the more naturally flowing brook will bring mental health benefits to the community and SRT will host community engagement events in the project area to showcase the benefits of the works.