Egford Brook footpath reopens following riverbank repair works

Repairs to the footpath that runs adjacent to Egford Brook in Vallis Vale are now complete and the area has reopened to the public.

We completed the work to address the riverbank erosion caused by increased footfall and high winter river flows. New flow features have also been installed that will help shore up the banks and provide enhanced and more varied fish habitats, while slowing the flow of the river and reducing the effects of erosion.

“We know that many people use the footpath to walk their dogs, and dog-dipping areas have been created to help reduce further erosion of the riverbank, without preventing four-legged users of the path from accessing the water,” said Alex Hemming, Principal Landscape Architect at Heidelberg Materials UK.

The project was carefully planned to avoid disrupting fish spawning cycles and was guided by input from the Environment Agency, Natural England and The Wild Trout Trust (TWTT). Necessary consents for the project were secured and the materials used were chosen for being both natural and locally sourced.

Some trees along the riverbank have been coppiced as part of the design provided by TWTT to ensure the long-term resilience of the riverbank, and these stools will regrow. The larger wood arisings have been anchored in to the river bed to slow down its flow to further reduce erosion while also providing habitat for invertebrates and fish.

We also have plans to install information boards about the riverbank and the wildlife that call it home.