Swindale Beck and Meadow Restoration Project

This project aims to improve the landscape of Swindale Valley to create a more natural environment. We will restore a 400m section of Swindale Beck, re-wilding the artificially engineered straight channel to create a more natural water course, delivering important benefits for both wildlife and people. This project will increase biodiversity in the river and surrounding hay meadows, which together will eventually be able to support thriving populations of fish, rare freshwater pearl mussels, otters, plants and a range of birds. Public access will be enhanced with a new waymarked walking trail and the visual appeal of the valley will be improved by returning the river to its original meandering course, replacing a metal bridge with a ford, and tree planting.