Vicar Water - Three Rivers Restoration Project | Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Vicar Water - Three Rivers Restoration Project

Vicar Water Country Park had issues with low water flow but re-profiling work has helped to overcome this along a stretch flowing into the park and the main lake.

Approximately 800m of river has been restored through the Park including re-meandering, putting in berms and leaky dams, as well as new ponds and scrapes. There has also been approximately 700 native plants included along the newly engineered channels and pools.

An overgrown stream with low water flow. — Vicar Water before re-profiling work commenced. Credit Rachel Rutherford

View of a stream after re-profiling work with people viewing the work. — Vicar Water after re-profiling during a Members walk. Credit Rachel Rutherford

Vicar Water re-profiling work November 2024 (https://youtu.be/WdiNndwjoOY)

Vicar Water re-profiling work November 2024. Credit Rachel Rutherford

Vicar Water was re-profiled to enhance water flow and habitat.

Gravel can be seen now on the river bed. Ideal for fish spawning.

Newly planted native species along a river bank — Credit Rachel Rutherford

Just some of the 700 native plants included in the landscape after re-profiling.

Clipstone Colliery

During January of 2025, in collaboration with contractors Ebsford Environment Ltd, work commenced on the stretch of Vicar Water alongside Clipstone Colliery.

Vicar Water flows through the same-named country park and out alongside Clipstone Colliery, owned by the Welbeck Estate. The section of river being improved runs through the Clipstone colliery from the railway bridge to Baulker Lane. Initial ground works by Ebsford exposed the railway culvert, which hasn’t seen the light of day in around 70 years. The planned works includes major deculverting and river regrading with lots of berms, riffles, pools and new meanders to help water flow. Beaver analogue dams will also be installed to slow the flow and create pools and wetland habitat during high flows. A transformational change on the landscape. These new daylighted sections will be restoring the river to flow above ground for the first time in approximately 70 years. It is believed the river was straightened and culverted during the mining construction in the 1950’s.

Due to mining fissures in the sandstone bedrock that runs under the colliery, the new and existing river channel is being clay lined to stop water losses to enable the river to adapt to low flows.

During a fish rescue prior to starting work highlighted a number of healthy species still living in the river including Perch.