Idea to reality: Maximising nature’s potential on farmland through technology and collaboration
- Naturrestaurering
Strong collaborations, a genuine desire to help nature thrive and an innovative way to incorporate technology into the planning process are key when protecting and restoring farmland. Devon Wildlife Trust’s David Thomas shares his insights from the recent Farrantshayes farm wetlands project in Devon County.
When the Conservation Manager for the land at Farrantshayes farm, Nick Millman, discovered ‘ghost streams’ on some of its 60 ha of lush green Devon pasture, it started a chain reaction. The result is the creation of a wetland area that improves water quality and slows down water flows, ultimately restoring the area’s habitat as well as introducing natural flood management.
“Combining the technology we already had and Scalgo Live means we’ve found a very cost effective way of conducting these types of restoration projects moving forward.”
David Thomas, Devon Wildlife Trust
The field turned into wetlands. Farrantshayes farm comprises approximately 60 hectares of land, with half of that designated for woodland creation.
“The landscape in this area had been heavily manipulated to the point where it was dominated by straightened ditches that run along the field boundaries,” David Thomas, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Working Wetlands Advisor, explains. “Nick noticed that even though the land had been drained historically and water courses had been moved, paleochannels started to flow on the surface during heavy rain. The fact that old surface water systems could be identified sparked the idea to investigate further to see if there was potential for re-creating a more natural environment.”
The field before the wetland was implemented, where you can get a sense of the paleochannels.
Paleochannels, or so-called ‘ghost streams’, are stretches of a stream that are no longer part of an active fluvial system and can, for example, appear in areas that have been drained for farming. Introducing a wetland area seemed the logical step forward in restoring as well as preserving the land, and the benefits go beyond nature restoration as well.
By creating wetlands, farmers can also hold on to water longer during drought conditions, which ultimately ensures access to fresh grass for livestock. “So, when we’re talking about the creation of wetlands and slowing water flows, it’s not just about the wildlife or something nature-focused, it also factors into the business side of the farm as well,” explains David, who was consequently engaged to conduct a river restoration feasibility study on the property.
Evaluating suitability for wetland creation
This feasibility study was initiated to gather information about the farmland and data including historical maps, LiDAR and ground observations were collected to evaluate whether the area is suitable for creating wetlands. “As part of the study, I went out after a torrential rain and walked around the area to see what the water wanted to do when all the drainage was full and the ground became saturated. This gave me a good sense of where the water wants to flow,” says David.
‘Ground truthing’, as David calls it, plays a big role in the initial evaluation and planning of such restoration projects. Combining local observations and feeling the ground under your feet, along with access to detailed data and advanced technology allows for an informed approach, which is the key to a successful project.
LiDAR data was used in the feasibility study to identify paleochannels and medieval farmlands. The data also clearly shows modern structures such as ditches and the stormwater basin.
An iterative design process in close collaboration with landowners
The results from the feasibility study encouraged David and his team to start testing various designs for online wetlands, and Scalgo Live became an integral part of the planning process.
“Scalgo Live gave me the kind of safe space that I needed to play around with water levels,” says David. “And through creating these features and running the analyses, I could test what works and what doesn’t.”
For the initial design David created a series of scrapes with varying depths and lots of shallow undulating edges. In explaining his design process, he says, “The soil balance feature in Scalgo Live was very useful to give us some idea of the quantities we were going to have to deal with. As much as it is good to be creating different kinds of wetland features, you are basically going in with a digger and excavating material, and you have to do something with that dirt.”
Using the material from the excavation, several bunds were included into the design to increase the detention volumes in the ponds. While continuing to develop his design, David visited other sites, including one that incorporated beaver dams. These long, low features spread the water as far as they possibly can where land has a gentle gradient. He was so inspired that he decided to add similar features to his design for Farrantshayes farm.
“Scalgo Live gave me the kind of safe space that I needed to play around with water levels.”
David Thomas, Devon Wildlife Trust
David ended up with a couple of different designs to show the landowners, who were ultimately responsible for which one to choose. “I showed them the various designs, including the one inspired by the beaver dams, and they got really excited by it,” he says. “In the end they said, we’re happy to maximise creation if we are going to do this, so it was the design inspired by the beaver dams that they decided to go with in the end.”
Two different designs (final design on the left) were created and subsequently evaluated by recomputing the surface water analyses.
Final touches with help from an experienced contractor
Excavation began in April 2024 and David worked with a contractor who had extensive experience in natural flood management work. As he explains, “I exported my Scalgo Live design as a PDF file and the contractor uploaded the design to an app on his phone that helped him place the various features in the right place as he drove around. It meant he could see where he was in the design at all times, allowing for precise execution, and with his experience, coupled with the Scalgo Live design file, he created the shapes we wanted.”
In the final design, long bunds where planned using material from the excavation.
David is very happy with how the wetlands area on Farrantshayes farm turned out and looks forward to showing it to other project groups undertaking similar planning processes. As he says, “Combining the technology we already had and Scalgo Live means we’ve found a very cost effective way of conducting these types of restoration projects moving forward.”
To hear more about wetland creation, register here for our upcoming webinar with David Thomas.
