Home >> Wetland >> Groundwater >> Regenerative Farming >> Regenerative Drainage >> Nitrate Mitigation
Whitewool Stream - Wetland ProjectA journey TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY, NITRATE NEUTRALITY AND A BETTER ENVIRONMENTThe Whitewool Stream Wetland Project is part of a wider scheme to reduce nitrate levels in the water, attenuate peak flows and improve the Summer water flow going down Whitewool Stream, into the River Meon and eventually The Solent.
Until January 2022, The Wetland site was a narrow fast flowing area of stream surrounded by open arable land. The project completed its construction phase in April 2022, which transformed the site by taking the original channel, a deep incised ditch back to, what is known as Stage Zero. And alongside this developing a series of swales and ditches to create a Wet System, which holds a carbon rich biodiverse habitat of trees, wetland plants, microrganisms and funghi all contributing to reducing nutrients in the water. The two areas will take nutrients out of the water, which is good for balancing the ecology of the river. It will also attenuate peak flows that sometimes cause downstream flooding in the Winter. And by slowing the flow and creating a sponge like environment, it will reduce low flow times in the late Summer. The wetland will be planted along its edges with trees that also help protect the river and will complete a nature corridor that extends from the village of West Meon up to the Springs of Whitewool Stream. The project is financed by the sale of nitrate credits, which has been approved by Natural England and The South Downs National Park. |
WHITEWOOL STREAM WETLAND
NITRATE MITIGATION FOR THE SOLENT AREA To discuss Nitrate Mitigation, Nitrate Credits as a Nitrate Offset Solution please call or drop an email
to Jamie Butler "The Valley is the Wetland" WHITEWOOL STREAM WETLAND PROJECT
|
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The below pictures were taken between January and March 2022, as the wetland was under construction.
|
Jay Abrahams - Biologic Design
Note about the designer The wetland designer, Jay Abrahams (Biologic Design), has been working with permaculture principles all of his life to create natural habitats that clean up water. The system he has created at Meon Springs will enable an abundant habitat for flora and fauna at all levels - from microbes to mammals. The permaculture principles will ensure long term resilience and maximum environmental gain. It will ultimately form part of a broader water rententive landscape that will improve the health and flow of the River Meon for decades to come. |
why THIS, WHY NOW?
ECOLOGICALLY
The Wetland is designed to very much reduce "legacy nitrates". That is nitrate levels that have built up in the groundwater over many years. Combined with the policy of regenerative farming and the development of regenerative drainage features on the farm, this will make a significant positive difference to the quality of water entering the main river in West Meon. This ties in very well with the current thinking of government and the public alike that have realised after many years of high output farming, we do need to reverse the detrimental effect on the environment and produce food in a more sustainable way. 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. |