The Ditches of Denham
My name is Lizzie Davison. Since 2024, I have been working as Country Parks Access and Conservation Project Officer, responsible for managing HS2 funding to improve paths and habitats within Denham Country Park. My first visit to these upper reaches of the Country Park was interesting.
Luckily, I came prepared with wellies as the paths were about 30cm under water – acting more as a ditch than a path. Clambering over fallen trees and freezing my toes off in the icy water, I realised this may be more of a challenge than I had appreciated. And there were more hurdles to come, not just those fallen trees to jump over.
One of my biggest challenges has been to improve and raise over 1km of paths (the same paths that were underwater on my first visit) alongside replacing wooden bridges and creating habitats. As this area of the country park is located on a flood plain, the works required an Environment Agency Flood Permit. It became clear that raising the paths would not be possible under the permit conditions, so we had to look at alternative solutions to resolving the path flooding.
Ditches, ditches, and more ditches! Ditches are now my favourite subject. Designing a ditch network to move the floodwaters away from the path whilst balancing this with protection of rare water voles was a steep learning curve but fascinating. Water voles are rare and protected species, even their burrows are protected. Ecological assessments took place and plans altered further to ensure no water voles were disturbed and their little homes remained unscathed. High five to those cute little furry creatures.
But the big test is what happens in the rain. So far, after recent Storm Claudia, the paths remained dry, accessible and puddle free. The ditches started to fill, the water flowed into the wetland areas, and there were smiles all around. First indications are that we have solved the path flooding problem, maintaining, and creating further water vole habitat, and created a wonderful place for our visitors to enjoy all year round.
I am now moving onto stage two of the project, a boardwalk through the wettest areas at the very north of Denham Country Park. Let the fun begin again.