Saturday, March 19, 2016

Hogsmill Restoration Day 02

West Ewell, Surrey. Saturday 19-March-2016.

More restoration but this time on the site of a former weir. An earlier project by South East Rivers Trust had seen various weirs removed and this section had some "hard" edging to prevent erosion alongside a footpath. If you look in the first picture the dark line on the far right hand bank marks the previous water level when the weir was in place.


In order to soften the edges a series of large coir "sausages", pre-seeded with river plants, had been placed in the river earlier in the week. Our mission was to stabilise this arrangement. Who would have thought that there is sufficient demand that are specialist companies out there making these things, all pre-seeded with watery plants.


Half way down this stretch is what may look to you like a bit of old brick wall. In fact it is remnants of one of the gun-powder mills for which this river was renowned.


First step: the sausages were pulled out from the bank.


Then reseated back in the exact placement required.


Stakes positioned to hold the sausages in place, then driven in part way.


Finally wired in place and the stakes driven home to tighten the wires.


Finally a bit of river-bank gardening: transplanting reeds from the opposite bank to add vegetation to the coir rolls.


Another day of most satisfactory work.

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