River-restoration work on the Beverley Brook at Barnes Green has been completed, and the new bridge and island are now open to the public. Richmond Council announced the completion on 1 October, describing the scheme as part of the Community BlueScapes programme to improve flood resilience and create new wildlife habitats in the Beverley Brook catchment.
The completed work changes the brook from a straighter course into a more natural, meandering channel. The council says the project has increased the capacity of the Beverley Brook to respond to heavy rainfall, while project information for Community BlueScapes says the design keeps the original channel available as extra water space during flood events.
Brook given a more natural channel
The Barnes Green scheme restores a section of the Beverley Brook through a redesigned, winding route. Community BlueScapes describes the works as redirecting the river while retaining the old channel, so that more space is available for water when flood conditions occur. The programme page also describes swales reconnecting the river with its floodplain, supporting the management of flows during heavy rainfall.
The project is therefore presented by the council and its partners as a nature-based flood-resilience measure rather than a guarantee that flooding will not happen. No checked project information gives a measured reduction in flood probability, a quantified volume of new storage, or a list of specific properties protected by the works.
The council’s earlier September update had described the restoration design and the aim of giving the brook more room during high flows. The new October announcement marks the later completion stage, confirming that the work has been finished and that the public can now use the new bridge and island.
New island, footbridge and planting
A new island has been created within the restored area and can be reached by an accessible footbridge. Richmond Council says the bridge and island are open for people to explore and enjoy. The announcement also says the riverbanks have been improved, and that new trees and wildflowers have been planted around the brook.
Community BlueScapes says main construction work is complete, although the landscape will continue to change as planting becomes established. Its project information says wildflower areas have been reseeded and native plants introduced, with temporary fencing being used to protect newly planted areas while they establish. It also lists seven new trees as part of the completed improvements.
The council links the physical changes to both flood resilience and habitat creation. It says the restored brook is intended to provide a greener and healthier space for residents and visitors, alongside its role in the wider programme of flood-resilience work.
Part of Community BlueScapes
The Barnes Green River Restoration project is one of the key projects within Community BlueScapes. The partnership brings together Richmond Council, Barnes Common Ltd and WWT, the wetlands and wildlife charity, with the aim of using nature-based approaches to improve flood resilience across the Beverley Brook catchment.
Project partners describe Community BlueScapes as a six-year programme with £6 million in funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. They also say it forms part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme managed by the Environment Agency.
The Barnes Green work is being presented as a local example of that wider programme: a restored river channel, retained flood-event water space, swales connecting the brook with its floodplain, new planting and a public bridge to the island. The key change for residents and visitors is that the restoration is no longer only a planned or under-construction scheme. The site has now reopened in its completed form, with the bridge and island available to use.
