Wildlife in Stony Stratford will benefit from river improvements

River bypass drone shot by DroneMK

by Laura Tarry

The Parks Trust and The Environment Agency join forces to protect wildlife by opening up the old river channel at Millfield, Stony Stratford.

Staff from both organisations have invested in the improvements to the river channel to improve the flow of water around the structure to allow a fish passage. It has created 250 metres of new habitat, which in the future will be used for fish spawning.

The partnership project has cost £70,000, which helps with the connectivity of the river life to move more freely below and above the Millfield sluice, while offering a refuge to fish and other wildlife if flooding occurs.

The Environment Agency’s Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology team, worked with The Parks Trust’s staff to help deliver the project.

Rob Riekie, Landscape and Operations Director at The Parks Trust said: “The designed structure at the inlet allows more water in the channel at times of high water, and reduces to a smaller, consistent flow in the summer, allowing the sluice and the main channel to continue to be the main water course, while continuing to enable invertebrates and the rivers other wildlife (e.g. fish) to move freely either side of the sluice gate.

It also acts as a fish refuge when the river is in heavy flood, helping protect fry and fish from being washed away while staying in river channels.”

Rob Clapham, Project Manager from the Environment Agency said: “The Great Ouse is heavily modified in this area, which has negative impacts on fish and invertebrate populations.  This new channel and other enhancement works in the area will help to maintain a healthy and diverse river ecology for future generations to enjoy”.