£5m wetlands plan to clean up waterways and boost wildlife

A splash of innovation is set to clean up the Somerset Levels, with a £5 million wetlands project aiming to filter out farm fertilisers the natural way - no chemicals, just clever planting.

- Lewis Clarke

The move promises to boost biodiversity and bring a breath of fresh air to an area already known for its unique ecosystems and birdlife.

Wessex Water has unveiled ambitious plans to create an Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) north of Shapwick, Somerset, adjacent to the Hawk and Owl Trust's existing nature reserve.

The initiative, developed in collaboration with Natural England and the Environment Agency, aims to reduce nutrient levels in the water while creating new wildlife habitats across more than 25 hectares of company-owned land.

The project is designed to remove nutrients such as phosphorus from agricultural run-off before the water re-enters local watercourses.

By using natural processes involving native plants and soil filtration, the new wetland will combat the problem of eutrophication, a condition caused by excess nutrients leading to oxygen depletion and ecological damage in slow-flowing rivers and streams.