New Forest Isolated Meanders

	An isolated meander or overflow channel at Longwater Lawn

Over the past 130 years, or so, many new channels have been cut in New Forest stream beds so as to bypass natural meanders in the water’s course. Some streams have also been canalised, that is, deepened, straightened, and widened, whilst overflow channels appear to have been cut in others.

And what was the purpose of this work? To speed the flow of water downstream, reducing overspill onto adjacent land, and thereby providing better timber growing conditions and better grazing for commoners’ stock.

The changes did, though, result in the disappearance of a considerable amount of woodland, wetland wildlife habitat, habitat of a type that is now rare in Britain and the remainder of Europe.

Consequently, as part of the ‘Sustainable Wetland Restoration in the New Forest - LIFE 3’ project, previously present features have been returned to 10 kilometres of Highland Water and Black Water, and it is hoped that associated wetland habitats will subsequently develop.

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References:
Environment Agency: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/southern/202145/1197096/?lang=_e