Investment heading upstream to combat pollution and enhance water quality in the River Till
Significant investment in a tributary to the River Tweed is heading upstream to help combat pollution from agriculture and enhance water quality.
River and coastal habitats in the Scottish Borders and Northumberland will see significant restoration works on the River Till.
The Harehope River Restoration Project is out to tender with an estimated £400,000 price tag.
According to the contract notice, published by Tweed Forum, the works will include channel and scrape excavation alongside a large timber installation.
Tweed Forum is working in conjunction with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Newcastle University to deliver the so-called Life Wader project, a five-year plan backed by a contribution of four million Euros from the European Union.
The River Till is a small peaceful tributary of the River Tweed, rising on Comb Fell in the Cheviot Hills and joining the Tweed near Cornhill-on-Tweed. It also has a number of its own tributaries, including Wooler Water, River Glen, Hutton burn and Lilburn Burn.
Consultants AECOM have been involved in designing the restoration plans for the Breamish which forms part of the River Till.
According to AECOM: “The River Breamish flows through Northumberland National Park and is a designated Special Area of Conservation due to its importance for species including Atlantic salmon, brown trout, sea trout, otters, and floating beds of water crowfoot.
“However, a three kilometre reach near Harehope has been heavily realigned and degraded by past land use practices, including extensive straightening, and raised flood embankments. There have been structural failures in places, leading to frequent overtopping. It also affected the river’s ecology and its ability to support fish populations.”