Restoring the Gowy Catchment

What is it?

The Restoring the Gowy Catchment project is a large-scale river restoration and floodplain recovery programme focused on returning the River Gowy in west Cheshire to a more naturally functioning river system.

Over the last century, the river has been straightened, deepened and disconnected from its floodplain, losing approximately 7km of its natural length along with significant areas of wetland habitat including reedbeds, wet grasslands, pools and scrapes. This has reduced biodiversity, weakened natural flood resilience and diminished the river’s ability to improve water quality and store carbon.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is leading work to reconnect the river to its floodplain through back channel restoration, removal of artificial barriers and reinstatement of natural river processes. The project builds on more than 30 years of partnership working in the catchment, during which over 400 hectares of habitat have already been restored with more than 50 farmers and landowners.

Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?

The River Gowy catchment faces increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation, flooding, poor water quality and climate-related environmental change. Historic river engineering and drainage interventions have reduced the landscape’s natural ability to manage water and support wildlife.

This project has been developed to restore ecological function across the catchment while reducing downstream flood risk and improving resilience for communities, landowners and infrastructure.

The programme also supports the recovery of priority species including water vole and tackles invasive non-native species such as American mink.

What is it going to deliver?

By 2030, the project will deliver:

• Three pioneer floodplain reconnection projects
• Restoration and creation of approximately 50 hectares of wetland habitat
• Land acquisition to expand long-term habitat management
• Guidance and engagement with landowners across approximately 2,000 hectares
• Reinstatement of natural river processes and floodplain function
• Improved water quality and natural flood management
• Species recovery initiatives including support for water vole populations
• Eradication and control measures for American mink
• Increased carbon storage and ecosystem resilience

The overall ambition is to create a resilient catchment where wildlife thrives, flood risk is reduced and communities benefit from stronger ecosystem services.

LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:

LNRS priority species supported through the project include:

• Water vole
• Lapwing
• Mud snail
• Lesser silver water beetle