The Wye and Usk Foundation have been working with a farmer in the Frome catchment to install a series of wetland pools in an unproductive corner of an arable field creating an area rich in habitat and biodiversity. The scheme is designed to divert excess flow out of the stream during heavy rainfall and into the pools where the water will be held back and then released slowly. The pools are planted with diverse marginal wetland plants for habitat and biodiversity benefit and it is expected that through a reduction in flow rate and the filtering actions of the plants the pools also have potential to reduce suspended sediments and nutrients in the water before it is returned to the stream.
This project was funded by LIDL through a partnership with the Rivers Trust. WUF are very grateful to the David Watts and family at Little Frome Farm for their enthusiasm and support for this project.
