This is a set of before-and-after images from a river recreation project at Emmanuel’s Common on the River Nar. 

This is a brand-new river channel cut to connect a restored set of natural meanders (pictured above) with the main river. These pictures are taken more or less one year apart, immediately after the project was finished last winter and on 26th December 2015.

The new channel is full of brown trout and all the in-stream and riparian plants – including good stands of ranunculus and starwort – are self-sown. For more details see the link at the foot of the page.

See also: Emmanuel’s Common Project Report