In January 2021 we started the Estate’s Ditch Maintenance Program. Covering circa 4,000 acres of land it’s a huge and on-going undertaking, concentrating on Clifford Chambers and Atherstone on Stour in the first year, extending to land in Preston on Stour and Alderminster, and the rotation system allows wildlife to recolonize.

The network of ditches, including streams, cuts, drains, open ditches, culverts, sluices, dykes, ponds and surface sewers, common across arable land, act as drainage systems for water and play an important role in flood alleviation and create favourable soil conditions for farming. With evidence of more intense and heavy rainfall, brought about by climate change, and higher levels of development to meet housing needs, the requirement to maintain functioning ditch systems and ensure a “proper flow” of water, is now more important than ever.

The Estate recognises the importance of drainage, especially in today’s climate and has made a huge investment for the good of the environment and future of the local community. To date we have repaired and maintained over 16.55 miles 26.63km of ditches and we estimate that this covers approx. a quarter of Estate farmland. Some of those ditches in part, have been rediscovered after being buried or severely blocked by vegetation for several years.

The program includes, the removal of any obstructions such as large rocks, rubble, fallen trees and branches and other waste materials such as litter, and also the control of vegetation and plant-life i.e. the growth of trees, reeds, weeds and grass. Timing is important and we ensure minimum disturbance to spawning fish and nesting birds, and autumn/winter is a good time to remove the build-up of silt in preparation for increased winter flows, as the vegetation is naturally dying back.

With emphasis on climate change, it is essential to protect natural habitats too and these maintained ditches can provide excellent habitats for wildlife. This approach allows wildlife to travel and use the wildlife corridors properly rather than having to migrate elsewhere. In arable landscapes, ditches can be the only wet habitats making them increasingly important wildlife corridors. Ditches that hold water all year round will attract different species to those which are prone to drying out, although both are important.

During the course of the ditching works, we have removed Ash trees in one particular area that have been identified as diseased with Ash Die Back, a disease which left unattended can devastate woodlands. In this case it has allowed us to repair and maintain a drainage system connected to the historic Lion’s Pond that sits within the parkland of Alscot Park. This particular section of the drainage system includes a sluice to regulate the flow of water and plays an important role in flood prevention. Creating a new wildlife friendly bank, where trees have been removed, will encourage re-growth of vegetation in addition to new planting, and reduce the risk of pollution into the watercourse.