The Clifton Clearwater Project

This project aims to: Enhance the aquatic environments and improve the fishery resource at Holme Pit SSSI by sensitively removing excess silt from the pond.

Objectives

• To remove sufficient silt to provide a mean clear water depth of 2m.
• To deliver associated habitat works to marsh and woodland
• To involve the wider local community in every aspect of the project
• To deliver a sustainable, best value project

Background
Due to the complex and highly sensitive nature of the site, the project has been split into 3 phases. The phases are outlined below.

Latest Project News

Thanks to funding received by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Nottingham City Council, Phase 3 of the de-silting work at Holme Pit commenced in December 2007, and the major works were completed in March 2008. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust was contracted by the City Council to oversee this work and to provide community and education work within the local area.

A total of 7000m3 of silt has been removed from the pond and has been spread onto local fields where it will be ploughed in to improve the fertility of the soil. A total area of 25m2 of the marsh to the north of the pond has had the top soil removed in order to link up the wet areas and to prevent the area from drying out completely.

The area of woodland between the outflow channel of the pond and the Trent Valley Way has been thinned, which will hopefully increase the amount of light to the woodland floor and encourage more plants to grow here. Students from BTCV (British Trust of Conservation Volunteers) have been constructing a boardwalk along one edge of the pond, with the aim to increase access to the shallower areas. This, along with improvements to other footpaths, is hoped to be completed by March 2009.

A celebration event was held at the nature reserve on the 20th September, and it proved to be a great success with over 100 local people in attendance! If you would like to find out more about the site and its history, please join us for a guided walk on Saturday 25th April 2009. We will meet at the car park on Holgate at 11am.

The Clifton Outreach Officer is now in post at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, so if your school or organisation wishes to use Holme Pit as an educational resource, please contact the Trust on 0115 958 8242.

Phase 1 - Feasibility
Start Date: Jan 03
Finish Date: Jan 04
Cost £11,000

To look into the feasibility of sensitively de-silting the pond without damaging the Special Interest of the site.

• Steering group of experts and interested parties was formed and has met regularly since January 03.
• Funds were raised to commission surveys into water depth, silt composition, condition of soil in the receptor sites and the potential to use silt as a soil improver.
• From the results of these surveys it was concluded that the de-silting was feasible but a scale trial was needed.

Phase 2 - Trial Works
Start Date: Jan 04
Finish Date: June 05
Cost £25,000

To deliver scale trial to gather more information about the water content method of removal and drying time involved; and improve the recreational resource of a section of the site whilst funds are found for the full project.

Phase 3 - Main works to be titled 'Clifton Clear Water Project'
Start Date: Dec 07
Finish Date: Sep 09
Cost £270000

To remove 6000m3 of silt from the pond, this will be used as a soil improver on nearby agricultural land. To lower part of the high ground in the marsh area to improve the wet habitat, and to thin the sycamore trees around the SSSI. A series of educational activities will be offered to schools, via the Clifton Outreach Officer at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and a celebration event will be held in autumn 2008 following completion of the de-silting.