Natural Rivers and Green Corridors

Natural Rivers and Green Corridors 2 is a continuation of the successful work undertaken during Phase 1 of the project. This second phase of the project is focused on the upper River Rea and its tributaries in south-west Birmingham. Throughout the project we will be working to continue minimising and mitigating the negative impacts of manmade interventions on the River. Such manmade interventions include, canalisation (straightening if the channel), weirs and hard engineered banks (concrete, bricks or sheet metal). The project aims to re-naturalise the flow of the river as much as possible whilst also considering the implementation natural flood management processes where possible.

Not only will this improve habitats for wildlife, the project will benefit communities by making local watercourse more attractive and more visible allowing a wider audience feel the wellbeing benefits of being in a close proximity to flowing water. 

The four-year project will be a partnership between the Environment Agency and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Birmingham City Council are key Stakeholders.

The Birmingham Rivers, including the River Rea are a key area of focus for the Trust. NRGC1 continued the morphological improvements made to the Bourn brook in the 2013 Nature Improvement Area NIA and Phase 2 of the NRGC project is hoped to continue the improvement works further.