THOUSANDS of pounds are being sunk into a new restoration and conservation project at Whitehill Stream as diggers moved on to the site this week.

With the aid of a £15,000 grant from the Environment Agency, new flood mitigation works are being done in conjunction with the creation of a new habitat for wildlife in the area.

The team from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West are carrying out the works to reduce the potential for flash floods by increasing the storage capacity in sections of the stream between the Rivermead Industrial Estate and Barnfield Sewage Treatment Works.

New and diverse wildlife will be attracted to the area, it is hoped, by extending the capacity of the stream, allowing areas previously left dry to be more amenable to certain species of animal.

Jenny Phelps, the senior conservation adviser at the Farming and Wildlife Academy Group South West, said there is the potential to reintroduce the water vole and great-crested newt to the area.

“We have duties to protect our resources and a duty to deliver the best quality in our rivers,” she said.

Swindon Borough Council suggested a project which might be of interest in the local area. The plan put forward is restoration of a storage area of Whitehill Stream.

"We are aware there is a skate park in the area of Rivermead, and the main focus is going to be on the impact of flood storage capacity.

“I have been alerted to a few things that might be affecting the function of the stream.

"We want to take what could be a lovely area and enhance it for wildlife and flood storage.

“We have a budget of £15,000, and allocated most funding to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, who will work closely with Swindon Borough Council.

“The aim is to do a small amount of work which would make the river flow more naturally. We want to try and enhance the area so water has the chance to flow, and enabling wildlife and flora and fauna.

“Our habitat survey has already been conducted, and the project will help the borough fulfil its obligations for the natural environment and as a flood authority for Biodiversity 2020.

“Carrying out practical enhancements on the river and tributaries through the flood storage area will help deliver good ecological status, improve flood storage, enhance biodiversity and have public benefit as an amenity asset that will become an enhanced green space in Swindon.”

“The River Ray and its tributaries is currently failing to achieve Good Ecological Status, which is due in part to poor phosphate status.

"The river and tributaries show poor habitat quality, lack of hydromorpholical diversity, and disconnection from the floodplain have also been identified as factors limiting the achievement of GES in the water-body.

“These are the factors this project aims to address. Long sections of the channels are heavily shaded by tree growth. This in turn is leading to bank erosion, and will be a limiting factor on the abundance and diversity of fish and invertebrate populations.

"The rivers are of limited amenity value due to the poor channel quality and visual shielding from heavy vegetation.

“The flood storage area does not function effectively due to the Whitehill stream being deeply incised. This limits its effectiveness in reducing the ‘flashy’ nature of the water-body and project may help to reduce flood risk.

"Remaining dry for long periods also reduces the areas potential wildlife value and allows the area to attract inappropriate use and anti-social behaviour."