New River Wandle Restoration Project to Revitalise Wildlife  in Carshalton and Wallington

A new project is coming to restore a stretch of the River Wandle in Carshalton and Wallington.

Led by the South East Rivers Trust (SERT), this initiative aims to improve the river’s natural flow and create better habitats for wildlife.

A similar project is featured in a new video by Bobby Dean MP that follows up on his acclaimed documentary Wandle: River at Risk. In the video, Bobby meets Dr Jack Hogan from SERT to see the river restoration work already completed further upstream in Morden Hall Park and how life is rushing back to the area.

The new restoration work will focus on a part of the Wandle near Culvers Avenue that has become too wide and caused sediment that harms fish to build-up. Dense tree cover also blocks sunlight, preventing important plants from growing in and around the water.

To fix this, South East Rivers Trust propose to:

• Narrow the channel using natural materials to improve water flow.
• Reshape the riverbed to create varied depths, supporting more species.
• Manage trees to allow more sunlight and encourage plant growth.
• Working with independent experts to ensure there is no increase to flood risk.

Local residents heard about the plans for the first time at a drop-in event at the Riverside Centre, Hackbridge last week (Mon 10 Feb) and a formal consultation period is to follow.

Bobby Dean, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, is supporting the project and said:

“Local residents made clear in the general election that they wanted to see our rivers cared for properly. It’s fantastic to see the work proposed for our local area. South East Rivers Trust have done great work elsewhere along the river and are now looking for volunteers to support this new project. I'll be getting my waders on to help out and I hope that many in our community will be joining me.”

Dr Jack Hogan, from the South East Rivers Trust, said:
“The Culvers Avenue project will help bring real and meaningful change to a neglected and struggling part of the river. Community engagement, and the invaluable help and support of local residents, have always been at the heart of our work. The Wandle was once one of the finest chalk streams in the country, and by working together we can all play a part in restoring it to its former glory.

See the project on South East Rivers Trust Website here: www.southeastriverstrust.org/projects/culversavenue/