Itchen Navigation heritage trail project. Reach 22
This stretch of the Itchen Navigation had fallen into disrepair, it was one of the highest areas of concern within the Navigation heritage trail project. The area was prone to frequent overtopping and the embankment had even breached in the past. This section of the Navigation is under great stress as the banks are perched (Higher than the surrounding landscape) and a complete collapse of the embankment was possible if enhancement had not been undertaken. Breaches and heavy foot traffic had also worn the existing footpath making the area a serious risk for public safety.
Due to little management in the past, trees had been left to grow inward, further damaging the embankment and often causing an overhead risk to health and safety from falling branches. In other locations, heavy shade from trees was preventing the growth of aquatic vegetation, reducing the amount of habitat and exposing the banks to further erosion.
Management and removal of the trees was carefully planned so as not to destroy vital roosts for bats, or remove limbs that overhang the channel and provide cover for fish.
Reclamation of the bank was achieved by faggoting the eroded areas along the original line of the channel. The areas behind the faggots were then back filled with topsoil to kick start the process of deposition. This area was then planted using native species that were collected from the local catchment.
Scour holes that had worn away the footpath and posed a potential trip hazard were patched using oak revetments. Where possible, topsoil was used in front of revetments to encourage marginal fringes to develop, blending the revetments in and creating important habitat.
Dogs entering the navigation cause untold damage to its already weakened banks. For this reason a designated area for dogs to enter and exit the water were designed in a hope to reduce the issue and inform the public of its importance. This is the first of a number of dog access areas planned for the project, as a trial to determine their effectiveness.
