Brief History of the Severn and Avon Values Wetlands Partnership


Severn Bore
The Severn Bore can be exciting for both surfers and spectators alike.


















Aims & Objectives

Re-creation options for the River Severn/Avon floodplain wetlands (Ecoscope 1999)

TIn 1999 English Nature, the Environment Agency and the RSPB commissioned a joint team from Ecoscope Applied Ecologists, Silsoe College (Cranfield University) and Aspinwall Clouston Ltd to carry out a study to evaluate the potential for restoring UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats and target species on eighteen floodplain areas within the Severn and Avon Vales Natural Area. Their report “ The Re-creation options for the River Severn/Avon floodplain wetlands” (Ecoscope 1999) has provided the basis for SAVWP’s strategic planning and the targeting of resources.

The study was carried out as a two stage process using two levels of criteria:

Phase 1 identified large areas within the floodplain that showed a general suitability for wetland restoration. Criteria used included topography, current landuse, general soil suitability and water availability (e.g. groundwater sources and flooding frequency).

Phase 2 looked in detail at eighteen floodplain areas, covering 7,929 hectares. Each area was assessed for potential constraints, e.g. flood defences, development, archaeological features and high-grade agricultural land. Then evaluated in relation to the specific requirements, including soil types, water regimes and existing habitats, of each target habitat type (inundation grassland, species rich meadow, reedbed, wet woodland etc.).


From this detailed evaluation each site was ranked in terms of its suitability to support target habitats and species and the feasibility of restoring target habitats.

 

Restoration Areas River Severn - Worcester to Holt Rver Teme - Severn Confluence River Severn - Kempsey Upper Ham and Lower Ham River Severn - Clifton to Upton on Severn Birch Green River Severn - Upper and Lower Hams at Upton on Severn River Severn - Uckinghall to Tewkesbury Longdon Marsh River Severn - Ashleworth River Severn - Coombe Hill Meadows River Severn - Minsterworth River Severn - Elmore Back to Longney River Severn - Walmore Common River Severn - Awre River Severn - Slimbridge / Wicksters Brook River Avon - Eckington Bridge to Tewkesbury River Avon - Evesham to Birlingham Bidford to Offenham

 

To view a detailed map of each section, click on the number
in the relevant area of the map.

 

Zones

  1. River Severn; Worcester to Holt.
  2. River Teme / Severn confluence.
  3. River Severn; Kempsey Upper Ham and Lower Ham
  4. River Severn; Clifton to Upton on Severn
  5. Birch Green.
  6. River Severn, Upper and Lower Hams at Upton on Severn
  7. River Severn; Uckinghall to Tewkesbury.
  8. Longdon Marsh
  9. River Severn - Ashleworth
  10. River Severn - Coombe Hill Meadows
  11. River Severn - Minsterworth
  12. River Severn; Elmore Back to Longney.
  13. River Severn - Walmore Common
  14. River Severn; Awre
  15. River Severn - Slimbridge / Wicksters Brook.
  16. River Avon - Evesham to Birlingham
  17. River Avon; Eckington Bridge to Tewkesbury
  18. River Avon; Bidford on Avon to Offenham


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