We had some unexpected fun last week, where a large breach formed on the bank of the river kennet. Not on our land, but just upstream of where we live. It quite suddenly became really big and was growing exponentially more quickly at a worrying rate. It was starting to threaten our homes, so we had to do something and ask questions later. We decided to install a temporary cofferdam, which would at least stop it growing any bigger and solve the imminent emergency. A more permanent solution is now being looked into. We hope to influence this to make sure that enhancing the natural habitat for biodiversity will be part of the design. Which can also offer a more self-sustaining and cost effective solution at the same time.
We also have a new drone to play with so we took some photographs, which you can see here:
Im confused, you write that it just recently breached but hasn’t that breach beside Red Lock Weir been active for some time? i know it was earlier this year…whatever the facts are well done if you’ve finally stopped it – Its needed tending too.
Yes it’s been a bit off and on for a few years now. But it recently went proper beast mode at a time when the river is low in a dry summer. It might have had a more eventful outcome if that had happened in winter!
There are quite a few breaches like this to the west of Newbury. Some winter only, some used to be winter only and now flow year round. All of them growing to some extent. So it was interesting to see what happens when one goes pop, as it gives us an indication what will happen to the others.
We are having conversations with various agencies on the wider issue here, but nothing concrete to report on that yet.