Town eco haven taking shape
DRONE IMAGES SHOW HOW LAGOONS HAVE BEEN DUG INTO WASHLANDS TO HELP CUT FLOODING RISK
WORK to dig up vast swathes of Burton’s Washlands to create an environmental haven is almost complete. New drone photos show several lagoons have been dug into the Washlands by St Peter’s Bridge, and the opposite side of St Peter’s Church, in Stapenhill.
It is part of a scheme to protect the area from flooding and increase wildlife by creating a series of pools and meadows. The Washlands surrounds the River Trent in Burton town centre and regularly floods, meaning people cannot cross or use the area when it is under water. This phase of the plan has now been completed as seeds have been spread across these excavations in the hope they will create wildflower meadows and further protect and enhance the wildlife.
The next plans are to create boardwalks for public access across the wetland areas; public open space improvements including planting and hard surfacing; a new play area; and platforms for access to the water’s edge between Meadowside Drive and the River Trent.
Now details of the materials that will be used to build the boardwalk and raised platforms and materials for the bollards, benches, paving, and play equipment have been submitted and approved. An Historic Environment Management Plan (HEMP) has also been submitted, which provides details of the programme of archaeological works to be carried out within the site, including post-excavation reporting.
It is part of plans, led by East Staffordshire Borough Council, in collaboration with Transforming The Trent Valley (TTTV) and the Environment Agency, to address how to best balance the regular flooding of the area with the need for public access and recreation. Over the autumn and winter environmental bosses are hoping for more rain to bring more water to the seasonal pools and expect to see them starting to vegetate. In September seed was spread across the large areas of soil which have been created by the excavations. Some areas where conditions are suitable, will be set with floodplain meadow flowers which people will start to see blossom in May 2023.
Large portions of the grassland across the Burton Washlands will be set with wildflowers and pollinators in mind, and will have a rest period from grass cutting during the summer months, from May to July.