River Restoration
Over the last 25 years, Salix have developed a diverse range of experience for river & wetland enhancement projects across the UK.
Our experienced technical staff, together with specialist machinery and the UK’s largest wetland nursery allows us to offer a complete service from initial discussions through to full Design & Build.
We work closely and support water companies’ commitments to improve watercourses through the current AMP7 and Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP). Salix has extensive experience working directly with stakeholders and landowners, as well as regulatory bodies which include local councils, the Environment Agency, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales.
Our ethos is to provide innovative, process led, nature-based solutions, high in Biodiversity and naturally low in Co2. Wherever possible, we take a sensitive work approach with special consideration to the natural geomorphic processes.
Capabilities:
- Supplier, contractor and consulting services
- Free initial technical design assistance
- Full design & build capabilities
- Surveys and modelling
- Specialist contracting services
- Post construction monitoring services
- Sediment control and management
Example river restoration solutions:
- River & Floodplain Restoration
- Barrier removal
- Instream habitat enhancement
- Natural Flood Management (NFM)
- Intertidal habitats
Case Studies
Re-naturalisation of the Broadwater Brook
Salix were awarded main contractor for constructing a kilometre of new channel for the Broadwater Brook.
Restoring the River Beane, a Chalk Stream
Salix enabled the restoration of wetlands and chalk stream habitat whilst bypassing a weir which was a listed heritage feature
Restoring the River Mimram, Tewin
Restoring the river Mimram whilst protecting the local population of water voles and increasing the biodiversity
Re-naturalising River Nairn
Restored wetlands provide water quality benefits, slow the flow and create diverse habitats for invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds Project Background The Ri…
Enhancements on Riverside Walk, Duke of Northumberland’s River
Salix proposed a river enhancement design with the main aim of increasing base flow, reducing low flows and narrowing the channel using vegetated wet berms of v…
Flooding and erosion prevention in Sheffield
When a flashy stream was unearthed in Sheffield Salix were brought in as specialist experts in erosion management by the Wild Trout Trust. The Porter Brook was…
River Bank Erosion Management at Wisley Golf Course
Extreme river bank erosion rectified by regrading the river bank and using Coir Rolls and Coir Pallets, preventing erosion naturally
River Washburn Restoration
Salix were approached as river restoration experts and because of the innovative Menzi Muck Spider machine which is capable of climbing in and out of a river ca…
Naturalising Norfolk’s Chalk Rivers
Salix has helped the Norfolk Rivers Trust to improve wildlife habitats on the chalk River Babingley, Hillington Estate near Flitcham, and River Nar at Pentney,…
River Thaw Enhancement
Salix were asked by Environment Agency Wales to advise on methods to restore a 100 metre reach of the River Thaw which had been subject to physical degradation…
River Roding Bank Protection
Salix advised engineers Halcrow on bioengineering methods to stabilise a regraded slope as part of an inter-tidal river enhancement project. The existing vertic…
River Roding Enhancement
The River Roding is an inter-tidal river and these works were undertaken 100m upstream of the Barking Barrier, Greater London. The works were part of an Environ…