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Nitrate Mitigation Solutions - The SolentAs you may know, high levels of nitrates in The Solent area have caused the UK government, Natural England and local councils to develop a nitrate neutrality policy that ensure new developments have nitrate mitigation measures that offset the nitrates discharging into any Solent international sites (Solent Maritime, Solent and Southampton Water, Portsmouth Harbour, Chichester and Langstone Harbours).
This has led to nitrate offset schemes being established in the areas draining in to The Solent. One such scheme that has been approved by Natural England and the South Downs National Park Authority as a nitrate mitigation solution is the development of a Wetland area on Whitewool Stream, at the headwaters of The River Meon. |
WHITEWOOL STREAM WETLAND
NITRATE MITIGATION FOR THE SOLENT AREA To discuss Nitrate Mitigation or Nitrate Credits please call or drop an email
to Jamie Butler "The Valley is the Wetland" |
whitewool wetland -
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WHITEWOOL STREAM WETLAND PROJECT
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other nitrate mitigation schemes
There are a number of nitrate mitigation schemes coming through the system many of which are listed on The Partnership for South Hampshire Website (PUSH). - https://www.push.gov.uk/work/mitigation-schemes-available-to-developers/
niTRATE CREDITS
The amount of nitrate credits that a development needs is calculated by a formula based on the output of nitrates from the development.
To begin with, a nutrient budget needs to be calculated and test through an "appropriate assessment". The nutrient neutrality calculation needs to include key inputs and assumptions that are based on best available scientific evidence and research. Some nitrate mitigation can be achieved on site by careful design of nitrate removal features and green areas within the development.
The Whitewool Stream Wetland Project can be used as part of your Appropriate Assessment. Please contact Jamie for further details. - 07775 728007 or jamie@meonsprings.com
To begin with, a nutrient budget needs to be calculated and test through an "appropriate assessment". The nutrient neutrality calculation needs to include key inputs and assumptions that are based on best available scientific evidence and research. Some nitrate mitigation can be achieved on site by careful design of nitrate removal features and green areas within the development.
The Whitewool Stream Wetland Project can be used as part of your Appropriate Assessment. Please contact Jamie for further details. - 07775 728007 or jamie@meonsprings.com
what the wetland will look like
Below are a couple of pictures of how the stream looks today and how it might look after it has established in some years time.
pictured in 2020
This picture is the site of the proposed wetland. It illustrates the canalised nature of the stream and the sparse landscape surrounding it. |
as it might be in 2035
This picture is taken at the Springs of Whitewool Stream, where reeds of many varieties create a beautiful and diverse natural environment that is typical of chalkstreams in this area. The Whitewool Stream Wetland Project aims to reproduce this habitat, with all the benefits for a wide range of flora and fauna as well as slowly and steadily lowering the nitrate content of the water. |
Below is the illustrative plan of how it will look from the air.
Plan of the proposed Stage Zero Restoration
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Landscaping illustration of proposed wetland
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why are we doing this?
ECONOMICALLY
Economically, the project has been developed in response to government policy that now requires housebuilders in the Solent area to mitigate extra nitrates produced from developments by supporting projects that will lessen nitrates in the water.
It is a unique and positive policy where economics, human need and ecology are very much aligned.
ECOLOGICALLY
The Wetland part of the project is designed to very much reduce "legacy nitrates" by filtering out nitrates already in Whitewool Stream. These are nitrates that have built up in the groundwater over many years are aren't going anywhere any time soon.
However, in order to magnify the positive affects, we like to look at the whole of Whitewool Valley, which sits above the aquifer as the Wetland, which is why the wetland development is combined with the policy of regenerative farming and the development of regenerative drainage features on the farm, that will make a significant positive difference to the quality of water entering the main river in West Meon.
Economically, the project has been developed in response to government policy that now requires housebuilders in the Solent area to mitigate extra nitrates produced from developments by supporting projects that will lessen nitrates in the water.
It is a unique and positive policy where economics, human need and ecology are very much aligned.
ECOLOGICALLY
The Wetland part of the project is designed to very much reduce "legacy nitrates" by filtering out nitrates already in Whitewool Stream. These are nitrates that have built up in the groundwater over many years are aren't going anywhere any time soon.
However, in order to magnify the positive affects, we like to look at the whole of Whitewool Valley, which sits above the aquifer as the Wetland, which is why the wetland development is combined with the policy of regenerative farming and the development of regenerative drainage features on the farm, that will make a significant positive difference to the quality of water entering the main river in West Meon.
The whitewool stream wetland project has benefits at a number of levels...
SUPPORTED BY NATURAL ENGLAND FOR THE PURPOSES OF NITRATE MITIGATION for developers
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The project is available for developers seeking nitrate mitigation in the area. It has full planning permission, will be monitored by the South Downs National Park Authority and been supported for such purposes by Natural England. The planning permission and associated details can be found by clicking here: |