Wetland restoration at Fishlake

Project background

Fishlake is currently rough pasture which is of little economic or ecological value. The restoration project hopes to recreate a 60 hectare wetland adjacent to the River Don which will function as wildlife habitat and a floodwater storage area. This will change the hydrological regime of the area and reduce flooding to nearby urban areas, as well as providing opportunities for recreation.

Dan Richards, a Sheffield University PhD student from the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, is working on this project in partnership with the Environment Agency. This research will investigate the practice of floodplain habitat restoration, focusing on the resulting ecosystem services and the benefits brought to a wide range of people and biodiversity.

Project case study

Key findings

Local residents have been given information about the project, as well as updates about how the project is progressing. At the request of local people, better site access will be incorporated into the designs.

This project is still ongoing… watch for updates.