Milton Keynes floodplain forest

By re-establishing a natural floodplain along the Ouse Valley, the Parks Trust is enhancing the landscape, increasing biodiversity and creating valuable protection from flooding.

Stephen McLaren

The restoration of a site adjacent to the River Nene to forest floodplain required significant extraction of minerals to leave the site an average of 1.27 metres lower.

Once fully completed, it is envisaged that the project will create a total flood storage capacity of 460,000 cubic metres. Work has started and will happen in a number of phases, some requiring five to 10 years to adapt and mature to a natural state.

In addition to the removal of the gravel layer and restoration of the worked areas, the scheme also encourages improved public access though the creation of benches, paths, boardwalks and bridges. The new habitat will include a range of topographically diverse features including braided channels, reeds and ponds and species associated with reedbed, wet grassland, tall herb ‘fen’ vegetation and woodland ecosystems.

A key factor in delivery was the enabling mineral extraction works. The lease and royalities from selling the gravel are passed to the Parks Trust with approximately 35 per cent held in perpetuity to fund long-term management with the remaining balance for capital expenditure.

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