Hayle River Community Project

Green Bank Repairs – 15^th August 2023

The sun came out for over 40 volunteers that joined Cornwall Council, Westcountry River Trust and Cormac to install green bank repairs along stretches of the River Hayle up-stream of St Erth to conserve the adjacent footpath from river erosion.

Volunteers protect a much-loved footpath from river erosion.

Henry Mariner of Westcountry Rivers Trust explained the technique and why green bank repairs offer benefits compared to hard engineering solutions, being cheaper and working with naturally processes to ultimately create a ‘live face’ of vegetation that traps falling sediment and builds the earth back up.

Teams of volunteers had joined from Cormac infrastructure Design and Cornwall Council’s Transport departments, taking one of two paid days per year for employee volunteering, which the Council supports because taking time to volunteer helps build connections between the Council, staff and communities.

The first stage of the green bank protection measures was to source local willow and hazel coppice, - there was plenty of this growing locally, nonetheless an ecologist on-hand to oversee and ensure no birds or other wildlife were impacted in the process.

Timber posts were then driven into the riverbed along the stretches needing protection, and the coppice was laid behind them, as densely as possible. Finally, hessian rope was used to tie the coppice to the posts, creating a secure façade against the bank.

Volunteers make excellent progress, learning new skills whilst giving back to the community.

Two sections were completed and there are plans for further volunteer days to install more of and repair these features protect the footpath each summer.

Many thanks are extended to all the volunteers that took park and the organisations that helped spread the word, including St Erth Parish Council, The West Cornwall Footpath Preservation Society and iWalk Cornwall.

The finished willow and hazel facades will transform into living bank protection over the long-term.

Cornwall Council Countryside Officer, Charlotte Evans said ‘The footpath along the River Hayle is such a popular route, providing benefits because it is easy access, close to populations and holiday destinations as well as being relatively flat and crossing though beautiful scenery. It may not be easy to protect it against forces of nature as the river meanders in it’s floodplain and we have already encountered challenges in doing so, however we are trying the green bank repairs because it’s a skill that can be carried out by volunteers and through that embedded in communities, helping us all feel more confident about conserving our vital green infrastructure locally’.

For more information, please visit: Hayle River Community Project | Let's Talk Cornwall

Calling all conservationists and anyone interested in helping protect the footpath between St Erth and Relubbus.

On Tuesday 15^th August the Westcountry Rivers Trust is teaming up with Cormac and Cornwall Council to install Green Bank Repairs at points of erosion along the River Hayle where loss of the river bank poses a risk to the adjacent footpath. They are seeking volunteers to join them in an effort to build skills within the local community that will help prolong the life of the beloved footpath route into the future.

Green bank repairs are those that work with natural processes to reduce riverbank erosion. Often, they have additional benefits such as providing a better in-channel habitat for river wildlife like fish and insects and have successfully been used in the past to protect areas of footpath along the River Hayle which were of being lost as the river meanders across its floodplain. By securing bundles of willow and hazel brash to the bank at along the section eroding, it creates and buffer taking energy out of the waterflow and helping to trap any soil that does become loose.

In 2022, green bank repairs were installed along the riverbank at the section of footpath currently closed at Carbis Mill. Westcountry River Trust continue to monitor and make repairs to these and despite not yet being a solution that allows reopening of that section, there has been success in protecting the bank from further loss. We want to intervene at other erosion hotspots now, before the path is lost.

Green Bank repairs in situ at Carbis Mill

One of the areas that will be tackled during the volunteer event on 15^th August

Volunteering details

The session will be working in the section between Green Lane and Carbis Mill and will be overseen by Henry Mariner of Westcountry Rivers Trust and Lea Thomas of Cormac Solutions.

Most of the volunteer activity will be on the bankside, however if you are attending, please do bring welly boots and wear clothing suitable for outdoor work. Protective clothing and equipment will be provided.

The session will meet at 10am at the Green Lane Gaging Station to walk on from there, leaving at 10.10am. To walk to the meeting point from St Erth Church, follow the Green Lane all the way until you cross the river over a bridge. The organisers will be there to meet the volunteers.

Meeting location what3words: https://w3w.co/clubbing.reverses.online

Benefits of volunteering

If you are able to attend and support the activity, not only will you be helping protect the valued footpath, but it will be a great opportunity to find out more the habitats and geomorphology of the River Hayle as well as learn a new active skill that might come in useful in the future as the river continues to move and more sections become eroded.

• Enjoy being outdoors and active
• Learn a new skill
• Find out about the habitats and geomorphology of the River Hayle
• Protect a valued footpath for the benefit of the community

Find out more about the River Hayle Community Project at: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/hayle-river-community-project