Trialling willow-spiling bank revetment on the Clwyd

This year we have been trialing a stake-and-willow revetment on an eroding outside bend in the Clwyd catchment at Henllan, working with Kehoe Countryside. On this spate-influenced, gravel/cobble reach, the aim is to stabilise the bank, cut fine-sediment inputs and provide cover and low-velocity margins for juvenile fish.

The woven willow face helps absorb flow energy and protect the field edge, while live growth will knit into the bank over time, improving structural integrity and creating additional micro-habitats.

We will be monitoring the site and reporting findings to Denbighshire County Council over the coming year, particularly after high flows, to track stability, vegetation take and fish use of the new margin habitat. If this design is successful we will roll it out across the Clwyd catchment. 

This work has been carried out thanks to sustainable fisheries funding from Natural Resource Wales.