Rural SuDS Improve Water Quality on River Penk

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has created three rural sustainable drainage systems (RSuDS) to improve water quality along a stretch of the River Penk.

Routine monitoring by Natural England found parts of the Whiston Brook catchment are affected by agricultural run-off particularly during floods. The catchment contains Mottey Meadows, a SSSI, a special area of conservation and a national nature reserve.

Working with landowners, Natural England and the Environment Agency, the wildlife trust created three RSuDS to tackle the issue. RSuDS are a collection of physical structures and techniques where the natural environment is used to help reduce diffuse agricultural pollution and flood risk.

Grassland and wetland habitats were also created and restored to provide opportunities for a range of wildlife and improving habitat for fish provision along the River Penk and tributaries in areas near Wheaton Aston.

Anna Maxwell, survey and records officer for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said: "The project will breathe life back into this area and be of huge benefit to fish and invertebrates by improving and creating new habitats.

"Improving the water quality of the Whiston Brook helps reduce the amount of sediment and therefore phosphates from entering the tributaries of the watercourse."