Beverley Brook

Catchment partnership vision

Our vision is for the Beverley Brook to be a clean river, rich in biodiversity, that is recognised as a valuable resource by the whole local community.

Related websites

Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.

• Beverley Brook Catchment Partnership webpage
• Catchment Management Plans on CaBA website

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

Since 2016 partners in the Beverley Brook catchment have undertaken a wide range of projects to improve the river and its surrounding green spaces, benefiting both people and wildlife. Two large river restoration projects were completed in Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common to increase flow variation and provide more complex habitats for aquatic wildlife. Both projects re-naturalised the river by narrowing and re-meandering the channel, re-profiling the banks and introducing large woody material. Ongoing research at restored sites, through links with local universities, has provided insight into the benefits of restoration work. Natural Flood Management interventions in Richmond Park have helped to slow the flow of water. A large downstream defender was also installed in Richmond Park to help reduce the impact of road runoff entering the river through the surface water drainage network. There has been continued management of adjacent green spaces to improve public access and enhance biodiversity including improvements to footpaths, scrub management and the restoration of marginal vegetation. Citizen science projects have helped to identify pollution, record invasive non-native species and monitor populations of invertebrates. In addition, volunteers have given thousands of hours to assist with habitat management, river enhancement projects, and the removal of litter and plastic pollution. Partners continue to work collaboratively to address the removal of invasive non-native species within the catchment with both volunteers and contractors assisting with the delivery of a 'top-down' approach.

Partnership development plans

We would like the catchment partnership to facilitate joined up working and the creation of projects across the catchment. By frequent membership assessment we hope to be able to develop the partnership and bring in additional expertise where needed. We will continue to improve the partnership action plan, reviewing data and evidence to prioritise projects along the Beverley Brook. We also hope to improve community engagement with the river and raise its profile locally.