Aquatic Planting Project

Introduction

Selection of Planting Sites

Planting Sites

Fig.1

Fig.2

Site 2

Location

Bevern Stream, Novington Lane - TQ376158

Planting

On the 4th July 2000 six Ranunculus and six Sparganium plants were placed in the fast and slow flow areas respectively.

Monitoring

All sites were monitored throughout the following months to assess the development of the plants.

24th July 2000 - four Ranunculus and three Sparganium plants were still in situ.

13th Aug. 2000 – By this time it was assumed that some root growth would have taken place. The number of plants in situ had not decreased. The Ranunculus here appeared to be thriving with evident increase in size. There was a significant ingress of bankside vegetation restricting the amount of direct light to the stream bed and this was cut back. The Ranunculus plants were becoming smothered with prolific growths of filamentous algae, probably Cladophora sp. see fig. 1. This was not surprising, considering the nutrient salt levels found in this area, particularly phosphate, of which extremely high levels had been found in our water quality analyses. There was also a very low flow rate at this time. All the Sparganium plants that had survived the initial spate were present at all sites.

15th Sept. 2000 - There appeared to be further deterioration of the Ranunculus, with very little frond tissue remaining on the stems. The amount of Cladophera had increased. The Sparganium plants also seemed to be in poor condition. As winter approaches these plants will begin to die back, but the root systems should have developed well enough to survive the winter spates and regenerate next spring.

October 2000 to May 2001 - The autumn of 2000 and winter of 2000/01 featured the heaviest rainfall with the most severe and continuous spate conditions within living memory. It was not possible to gather any information from the planting sites during this period due to the persistently high water levels. The outbreak of foot and mouth disease in February 2001 precluded access to the Bevern Stream until restrictions were lifted at the end of May 2001.

28th May 2001 - Three or four clumps of Ranunculus were present and well established fig. 2. However, there was still a significant amount of Cladophera in this section. A small Sparganium plant had also survived the scouring of the winter spates.