Richard Thorpe, a volunteer helping to plug a leak around one of the sluices.
Installing sluices
to help control water levels
Much of the wildlife interest in the site is dependent on the regular flooding
of the meadows. Winter floodwater is important for over wintering diving
and dabbling ducks and when floodwater persists into spring this provides
pools for breeding ducks and snipe. One of the key objectives of managing
King's Meads is to raise the water levels to maintain wet ditches throughout
the summer. This is achieved by a series of sluices. Four sluices have been
installed across the site which are regularly maintained weekly to prevent
leakages.
|
Richard Thorpe, a volunteer helping to plug a leak around one of the sluices.
|
Further sluices are planned to be installed over the coming year. One will be installed at the outflow from Chadwell Mead into the New River. This is an area where wading birds such as lapwings, redshanks and snipe could potentially breed. For these species to breed the water levels must be kept low during spring and early summer to provide a mosaic of islands, shallow and deep water.
