that s been artificially straightened in the past is resulting in a return of wildlife, according to the royal society for the protection of birds. the charity says it also reduces the risk of flooding, and the government should encourage more such river restoration schemes by providing financial incentives for farmers and landowners. 0ur science correspondent, victoria gill, has been to the recently rewiggled swindale beck, near haweswater, in cumbria. a river coming back to life. fish are now breeding in this part of swindale beck in cumbria in habitat that s been missing for 200 years. this one kilometre stretch of river was artificially straightened two centuries ago, but conservationists have now set it back on its original meandering course. the results of this restoration are really starting to show. and yeah, this little bit of river that we can see here, we ve got a fantastic gravel bar. we ve got the ripples that we can hear a little bit further up near one of the meanders,
victoria gill has been to see the work on swindale beck in cumbria. a river coming back to life. fish are now breeding in this part of swindale beck in cumbria in habitat that s been missing for 200 years. this one kilometre stretch of river was artificially straightened two centuries ago, but conservationists have now set it back on its original meandering course. the results of this restoration are really starting to show. and yeah, this little bit of river that we can see here, we ve got a fantastic gravel bar. we ve got the ripples that we can hear a little bit further up near one of the meanders, we ve got a nice deep pool. so as soon as you get the physical conditions back, the whole kind of food chain seems to reassert itself. it s like a living thing again back in the landscape, whereas the straightened river before was just a kind of sad canal. the river was straightened by farmers to reduce the risk
hollows, and all filled with water. , ., ., water. by turning to nature this thread water. by turning to nature this thread footage - water. by turning to nature this thread footage shows | water. by turning to nature i this thread footage shows how the beaver has created meanders in the stream, allowing other habitats to develop. taste in the stream, allowing other habitats to develop. we don t say beavering habitats to develop. we don t say beavering away habitats to develop. we don t say beavering away for - habitats to develop. we don t l say beavering away for nothing. the beaver really is a grafter from building dams to digging canals, transporting water, even slowing water down. the beaver is even slowing water down. the beaver is supersmart. the - beaver is supersmart. the beaver is supersmart. the beaver have beaver is supersmart. the beaver have credit - beaver is supersmart. tue: beaver have credit canals, beaver is supersmart. tte: beaver have credit canals, the
we can see reeds there but it is crisscrossed with all sorts of beaver channels and pools and hollows, and all filled with water. by turning to nature, this thread footage shows how the beaver has created meanders in the stream, allowing other habitats to develop. we don t say beavering away for nothing. the beaver really is a grafter, from building dams to digging canals, transporting water, even slowing water down. the beaver is super smart. the beaver have created canals, the beaver have made dams, they have felled trees and they are brought water all around the site. and in doing so, a lot of the big trees like ash and oak, they were sucking on the moisture out of the site, dried up, have started die off. but they have credit habitats in their own right, standing dead, it s been over 20 years, but what s taken its place is lots
during that time, the creatures have been sinking their teeth into trees, plants and soil and have transformed the landscape in the process. chrissie reidy can tell us more. beavers rarely put their feet up and that s why 20 years ago they were reintroduced here at ham fen to transform the land back to wetland. it was drying out, it almost had dried up. the trees you in the background, that small bridge that was just over there, you used to be able to walk across. you can t do that anymore. that is a wetland site now. we can see reeds but it is criss crossed with all sorts of beaver channels and pools and hollows, and all filled with water. by turning to nature, this drone footage shows how the beaver has created meanders in the stream, allowing other habitats to develop. we don t say beavering away for nothing. the beaver really is a grafter, from building dams to digging canals, transporting water, even slowing water down. the beaver is supersmart.