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Moving the River Jordan

Steve Oliver

Many of our rivers are highly modified by humans but there is always potential to do river habitat enhancement work to increase flow diversity and benefit wildlife. Returning the path of the River Jordan to the valley bottom was such a project, made possible with the help of our volunteers.

Volunteers and staff worked together to move the path of the River Jordan

Not many people can say that they have moved a river, but a group of volunteers worked with staff from Dorset Wildlife Trust in partnership with Wessex Water to do just that! A perched section of the River Jordan at Sutton Poyntz was constrained within an old mill leat and after investigations, it was decided to return the river’s flow pathway to the valley bottom through an area of wet woodland. The aims were twofold in improving the flood resilience of the catchment area by increasing the flow diversity and improving the wet woodland habitat.

Photo showing the river before the move

Stephen Oliver

Photo showing volunteers removing the banks of the river

Steve Oliver

Photo showing volunteers working in the River Jordan

Steve Oliver

Photo showing volunteers constructing new banks to redirect the river

Steve Oliver

Photo showing River Jordan after realignment

Steve Oliver

Staff and volunteers dug out a five-metre section of riverbank by hand, using only spades in order to limit disturbance to this very sensitive site. This allowed the river to return to the valley floor. A new bank was then constructed using chestnut stakes and all the materials removed from the original bank, redirecting the flow pathway through the adjacent wet woodland. Woody debris was positioned in the new flow pathway to increase flow diversity even further.

We’re delighted to have welcomed our volunteers back on their first river project since March 2020 – huge thanks to them all for making this happen – many hands make light work and that was certainly true when we were digging out the river by hand. This invaluable work has allowed the River Jordan to function more naturally, increased flow diversity and enhanced the habitat for wildlife. And we all get to say that we moved a river!
Steve Oliver
Dorset Wildlife Trust

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