Work is under way at Vicar Water Country Park, Clipstone, to improve the flow of its river and ecology as part of The Nottinghamshire Three Rivers Restoration project, a partnership between Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and Severn Trent.

Initial works began last year to remove scrub around the stream, opening up the waterway and letting in light, as well as installing coir matting around Vicar Pond to stabilise the bank. Now further scrub and tree clearance is taking place ahead of work to reshape the river channel, creating new wetland areas, ponds, and meanders.

The changes will help return the waterway to a more natural form and will increase the capacity and flow of the waterway, helping to prevent flooding downstream.

Coun Emma Oldham, portfolio holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services at the council, which manages the park, said: “This is an exciting and tangible project that residents can come and see first-hand.”

The wildlife trust’s head of communications, Erin McDaid, added: “There are many pressures on wildlife and habitats in this part of the catchment, including past channel modification, poor water quality, low flows, and loss of habitat. These rivers have been identified as a high priority for Severn Trent to address these issues and we are delighted to be working with them.”

To find out more about what’s happening at the park, including monthly guided ranger walks, go to www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/vicarwater

For details about rivers project, go to nottinghamshirewildlife.org/3-rivers-project-sherwood-forest