River restoration to reshape Northumberland waterway
Major project will lead top river off the straight and narrow. Tony Henderson reports.
In one of the biggest river restoration projects of its kind in England, a special Northumberland waterway will be returned to its natural state.
The Breamish Valley project is a key element of the River Till Restoration Strategy and is located on the Harehope Estate, south of Wooler.
The River Till and its tributaries, including the River Breamish, flow through one of the most picturesque and important landscapes in England, within Northumberland National Park.
The Till catchment is of high conservation and ecological importance, designated both as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation in recognition of its habitats and protected species, including otter, Atlantic salmon, river, brook and sea lamprey, and floating vegetation such as water crowfoot.
However, over many centuries - like so many river channels in the UK - it has been gradually straightened and modified to make way for intensive farming.
This has created a river disconnected from its floodplain, leading to a decline in freshwater species, reduced biodiversity, and an increased risk of flooding. The Breamish channel is now officially classed as being in ‘unfavourable condition’.
The venture, led by the LIFE WADER project and involving partnership with the Environment Agency, Natural England, Tweed Forum and the Harehope Estate, will work with the River Breamish’s natural processes to restore its connection to the floodplain and deliver a more natural and resilient mosaic of habitats.
The increase in wetland will also make the landscape more resilient to climate change.
The Breamish restoration concept has been in development since 2019. Contractors have been appointed and work has begun on the major construction phase.
This will include excavation and diversion of the river into a historic channel, installation of silt traps, shallow ponds, wetlands, and embankment breaches.
The scale and ambition of the project will be showcased in a film released next year.
LIFE WADER is a five-year, £5.8m nature recovery project co-funded by the European Union, due for completion in December 2026.
WADER (Water and Disturbance Environmental Restoration) is led by Natural England and brings together a range of experts to improve the ecological condition of more than 49,000 hectares of river, coastal and marine habitat, and improve water quality within the River Tweed catchment and along the Northumberland Coast.
Project manager Liz Humphreys said: “Sadly, UK rivers are in crisis with only 14% nationally in good ecological health. Our rivers have been deteriorating for a long time through intensive management and manipulation.
“Flood embankments, dredging, channel straightening and weir-creation have all reduced floodplain connectivity, removed habitats and obstructed the passage of migratory fish.
“By taking our cues from nature we can restore natural processes and habitats and bring the river ecosystem back into a state of balance. This ambitious project will be one of the biggest of its kind in England.”
Jim Heslop, environment programme manager for the Environment Agency in the North East, added: “This exciting project will help return the River Breamish to a dynamic, more natural state and bring a variety of benefits for water quality, habitats and biodiversity. We’re working with the natural processes of the river to bring it back to life.
“This will be one of the largest restoration projects of its kind in the country, ensuring that as well as bringing a boost for wildlife, generations to come can enjoy everything this beautiful river in scenic Northumberland has to offer.”