The OnTrent Initiative

Ruth Needham

OnTrent Project Manager

‘A Trent floodplain rich in wildlife habitats, landscape and historic features, for the benefit of all, both now and in the

future’

The OnTrent Vision

Trent facts

•274km long

•Flows through 3 Region and 21districts

•92% of Trent floodplain is managed for agriculture. Dominant land use grassland upstream changing to more arable in lower reaches.

•Heavily modified landscape.

•953km2 of natural floodplain, majority protected by flood banks.

How is OnTrent delivered?

Baseline Study

Action Program

LDF

Water Framework Directive

Agriculture

Flood Management

Minerals

Trent Vale Landscape Partnership

SPARCWet woodlands, Trent River Park, Trent Fisheries.

Trent Valley Way

OnTrent Forum

Seminars

Training

Leaflets

Trent Valley Habitat Pack

PolicyProjectsRaising awareness

Agriculture and land use

• 9.8% of Trent floodplain in CSS• Few incorporate significant wetland• Uncertain landscape benefits• OnTrent objectives recognised in HL

targeting statements• Budgetary constraints• Priority Habitats.

OnTrent Priority HabitatsCounty Staffordshire Derbyshire and

LeicestershireNottinghamshire Lincolnshire, North

Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire

Natural Area The Potteries and Churnet Valley Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Trent Valley Rises

Trent Valley and Rises Trent Valley and Rises Humberhead Levels

North Lincolnshire Coversands and Clay ValesTrent Valley and RisesHumberhead LevelsHumber Estuary

Opportunity Existing Potential Existing Potential Existing Potential Existing Potential

Priority Habitat

Earth heritage LS NS NS LS

Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh

Lowland raised bog NS

Lowland wood-pasture and parkland

LS NS NS NS

Purple moor-grass and rush pastures

LS NS

Reedbeds NS NS NS

Wet broad leaved woodland LS LS LS

Coastal Saltmarsh, mudflats and saline lagoons

NS

Exposed riverine sediment

Broad Habitats

Fen, marsh and swamp LS NS

Rivers and streams LS NS NS LS Standing open water and canals

NS NS NS NS

Flood management on the Trent• 160km2 area inundated during a severe flood• Heavily modified catchment, resulting in artificially fast

flows, increased flows from River Tame• 15,000 properties in the floodplain• OnTrent encouraging EA/Defra to develop flood risk on the

Trent more closely linked to land management.1) Changes in land use2) Flood bank realignment3) Storage areas.

Mineral restoration

• 30 mineral sites on the Trent

• Long future on the Trent

• QPA promoting BAP for each site

• Restoration objectives

OnTrent encourage restoration schemes that:

• Improve biodiversity and a range of habitat-types while avoiding issues associated with bird-strike, e.g. promote wet woodland at the margins of workings.

• Retain, replace or reinforce traditional floodplain landscape features e.g. wetlands, trees and hedgerows.

• Create OnTrent priority habitats.• Protect and conserve archaeological

remains including palaeochannels and alluvial deposits, and maintain historic landscape character wherever possible.

• If there is no alternative to its destruction, ensure an appropriate record is made of any archaeology, and that landscape restoration is in keeping with historic landscape character.

• Increase diversity in the design of restoration schemes along the river through a more holistic approach e.g. reconnection to the main river or creation of a braided-river where feasible and establishment of wet grassland.

• Accommodate sustainable responses to flood risk through the creation of wetlands and washlands, and the managed realignment of the river, where feasible.

• Improve opportunities for sustainable public access, principally walking and cycling but also provision for limited ability and horse-riding as appropriate.

• Allow for an appropriate mix of other recreational uses e.g. angling, bird-watching and water-sports.

• Support interpretation of the natural and historic environment.

• Involve the local community where appropriate.

In Summary

• Large range of organisations influencing the Trent landscape.

• OnTrent generating increased awareness of opportunities for floodplain restoration with associated benefits.

• Site based projects developing

• Still a long way to go!