Rivers Improvement Project

Improving the river channel and surrounding area from Brickly Road to Hedgerow Avenue, Luton

Thanks to funding from The Steel Charitable Trust, Groundwork East has led extensive improvement works to the river channel .

Which area is being improved and why?

The River Lea from Brickly Road to The Hedgerow Avenue has been a neglected, shaded, environmentally-poor green space in the heart of Luton with poor flow and a lack of marginal vegetation. However, this project has seen it transformed into a healthy water body with thriving populations of fish, invertebrates, plants & diatoms (microscopic algae), creating a richer resource for nature & people.

The tree works included removal of selected trees accompanied with removal of lower branches to crown lift other trees. These works increased light to the river and improved the health of the system.

The ‘in channel’ works included the reprofiling of the river bank and placement of brush berms (small structures made of natural materials, which make the river channel less straight, creating a more diverse flow pattern, quite often a raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal) which increased opportunities for different types of wildlife to make the river their home. The berms were also planted with native vegetation, improving the diversity of the bank profile and water speeds that will in turn improve the biodiversity and quality of the ecosystem.

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Landscape works include:

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Who is involved in the project?

The project is led by Groundwork East and will actively involve Luton Borough Council, The Steel Charitable Trust, The Wildlife Trust BCN, the Environment Agency & the River Lea Catchment Partnership.