Cain Bio Engineering

Posted By: mike on 05/07/2010 04:32

In October 2009 Cain Bio-Engineering implemented the second phase of 'design/build' work on the upper Hampshire Avon at East Chisenbury.

650m of the Avon was restored for the 'Wessex Chalk Streams Project', a partnership between the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Wessex Water plc .

In June 2010 Cain Bio-Engineering along with the Wessex Chalk Strem Project partners hostsed a Hog Roast Open Day to showcase the restoration and thank all parties involved.


Before		After

Dredged over-wide and straightened channel smothered by sand. Low habitat value

Channel narrowed and sinuosity restored, plantlife flourishing on newly exposed gravel bed

Guest were welcomed and briefed on the project history before embarking on a tour of phases I and II of the restoration works.
Key features and techniques were explained at manned information points and illustrated with informative posters.


Guests admiring phase I works		CBE staff manning an information point

With phase I now several years established and phase II in the full bloom of its first summer, guests had the chance to compare an established restoration with the relatively new works.


Guests walk the phase II works		Some guests enjoying the hog roast

After walking the river and observing the enhanced chalk stream habitat (including a proliferation of ranunculus growing in the channel), guests were treated to a hog roast (or vegetarian option) and relaxed to soak up the idyllic Wiltshire countryside.

Please see East Chisenbury I and II case studies for more information and to download information point posters (pdf format).