Lower River Crane Restoration
The Crane Valley Partnership has embarked on an ambitious project to restore/ rehabilitate 3 km of the lower River Crane, in the stretch between the Crane’s split with the Duke of Northumberland’s River (DNR) and Cole Park Island. Instead of a bare concrete channel, often hidden from view, ultimately we want to see:
- A more natural river full of plants, fish and wildlife, running through re-landscaped parks and open spaces, with improved facilities;
- An accessible riverside path all the way from Kneller Gardens to Northcote Nature Reserve; and
- More space in the river channel for water, to reduce the risk of flooding.
A vision document was produced in 2017 and a feasibilty and options report followed on in 2018:
The delivery phase started with a pilot scheme at Twickenham Rifle Club which has tested some of the bankside and in-river enhancement techniques.
Construction of a new backwater area, and the installation of an in-channel berm, was completed in 2022/23. The pilot scheme has demonstrated that relatively small scale interventions can have a significant positive impact, offering a pragmatic way forward where funding is not available for the sort of larger zonal schemes presented in the 2017 vision document. To view the pilot project report, please click the button below:
The findings from the pilot scheme have informed a new (2023) short-medium term plan for the restoration of the Lower Crane that will still deliver considerable benefits for people and wildlife, but at a lower cost than the original 2017 vision (some elements of which remain as longer term aspirations). To view the plan, please click the button below:
