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We would like to thank all those who have given support to this project from the local community, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Forestry England, Grown in Britain, the Freshwater Habitats Trust, Alvecote and Shuttington Parish Council, Maurice Arnold (sadly now passed away), and all the contractors and friends, family and volunteers who have worked on the site and given us advice and support.

We are developing Alvecote Wood according to our Woodland Management Plan that has been agreed with and grant-aided by Forestry England under the English Woodland Grant Scheme.

Are you another woodland owner needing advice? Would you like to read our Tree Safety Policy?

Managing Water at Alvecote Wood

Upper Ponds and Drainage
Starting pond excavations Pond one immediately after excavation
Starting excavations for upper ponds in 2008 Our first new pond adjacent to the site for the new building - filling up even on a dry day!
Pond 3 immediately after excavation Upper ponds in the snow
Second new pond immediately after excavation. Note the scalloped profile provides varied water depths even as the water level changes with the seasons Upper ponds in the snow
Ponds one and two at the end of 2008 New ponds 2 and 3 in early 2009
Ponds 1 and 2 at the end of 2008 connected by an overflow under the access track New Pond 3 with outlet overflow in early 2009, connected at the far end to Pond 2
Digging a drainage trench by dead tree Land drain and trench
Digging a drainage trench close to a tree that has died. To the left of this picture is another oak that has fallen in years gone by due to waterlogging The resultant drainage trench, helping to remove excess water from the vicinity of several mature oak trees and saplings
New Pond 2 in 2009 Winter ponds
Pond 2 in early 2009. Some of the soil removed and placed to the left of the pond has been seeded with grass and wildflower mix (April 2009) Frozen ponds in winter
Land drain trenches to drain internal road Land drain trench towards ditch
Trenches to accommodate land drain to further reduce waterlogging Outlet for the previous trenches towards the boundary drainage ditch
Stephen planting pond plants Pond 2 in May 2009
Stephen planting pond plants Pond 2 now populated with native pond plants
Newly-planted pond  
Newly-planted pond - spearwort, water soldier, reedmace, sedge and oxygenating plants have been added, as well as water lilies and marginals  

 

Lower Ponds
Lower pond before work New lower ponds from top end
Lower pond before work started New lower ponds from the upper end. The previous picture is at the extreme far end of this new pond complex.
New lower ponds from bottom end New lower ponds
Outlet to new lower pond complex, now controlling the flow better to avoid widespread waterlogging of the nearby oaks New lower ponds, linked together to control stagnant areas and to create discrete and additional habitats