The Brief

FGS Pilcher was appointed to deliver a major wetland creation and river restoration scheme within the Upper River Beult catchment in Kent, following a successful competitive tender.

Working alongside the South East Rivers Trust, Southern Water, the Upper Beult Farm Cluster and Habitat Regeneration, the project formed part of a wider catchment-scale programme designed to improve water quality, restore natural river processes and create a more resilient landscape.

The scheme demonstrates how a joined-up approach to water resilience can deliver multiple benefits by combining natural flood management, wetland creation, river restoration and habitat enhancement within a single integrated project.

Rather than relying solely on engineered flood defences, the project uses nature-based solutions to slow the movement of water, reconnect rivers with their floodplains and increase the landscape’s ability to store water during both flood and drought conditions.

The Challenge 

Over many decades, the River Beult had become increasingly disconnected from its natural floodplain through historic land management practices and river modification.

The result was a catchment that:

• Conveyed water rapidly during heavy rainfall, increasing downstream flood risk
• Retained less water within soils during dry periods
• Experienced riverbank erosion and channel instability
• Suffered declining water quality and reduced aquatic biodiversity
• Lost valuable wetland habitats that once formed part of the natural landscape

The challenge was to restore natural hydrological processes while delivering practical, long-term improvements that would benefit flood management, water quality, biodiversity and climate resilience.

The Solution

Using specialist earthmoving equipment and extensive experience in wetland creation, reservoir construction and river restoration, FGS Pilcher delivered a range of integrated natural flood management measures across the site.

Catchment-wide collaboration

Working closely with Habitat Regeneration, the South East Rivers Trust, Southern Water, Kent Wildlife Trust, local landowners and the Upper Beult Farm Cluster, the project adopted a collaborative catchment approach that balanced environmental, operational and land management objectives.

Wetland & Scrape Creation

FGS Pilcher excavated a network of ponds, scrapes and seasonal wetlands across the floodplain.

These new water features:

• Increase floodwater storage
• Slow surface water movement
• Improve groundwater recharge
• Create valuable wetland habitat
• Enhance water quality through natural filtration

Floodplain Reconnection

The project helped restore the natural relationship between the river and its surrounding floodplain.

By allowing water to spread naturally during periods of high flow, the landscape can temporarily store significant volumes of water before releasing it gradually back into the river system.

This helps reduce downstream flood peaks while increasing water availability during drier months.

River Restoration

FGS Pilcher installed rock riprap to stabilise vulnerable sections of riverbank and support more natural river processes.

The wider restoration programme also included reconnecting historic channels and encouraging water to follow more natural flow paths through wetlands and floodplain habitats.

Natural Flood Management

The project incorporated multiple nature-based solutions that work together to improve catchment resilience, including:

• Wetland creation
• Pond and scrape construction
• Floodplain reconnection
• Flow diversion through wetlands
• Channel restoration
• Leaky barriers and flow attenuation features
• Habitat creation for long-term ecological recovery

Together these measures create a more resilient landscape that naturally stores, filters and manages water.

The Outcome

The completed scheme has transformed the Upper River Beult headwaters into a more resilient and naturally functioning catchment.

Project outcomes include:

• 16 hectares of new wetland habitat
• 30 ponds and scrapes created
• Approximately 60,000m³ of annual water storage capacity, excluding additional floodplain storage
• 1 kilometre of river channel enhancement and reconnection
• Improved floodplain connectivity
• Increased biodiversity across the site
• Improved water quality
• Reduced erosion and sediment movement
• Greater resilience to both flooding and drought

Early monitoring has already shown significant improvements, with water remaining within the landscape for longer following rainfall events, supporting healthier soils, improving habitat conditions and reducing peak river flows.

Wildfowl, wading birds, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates have rapidly begun colonising the new wetland habitats, demonstrating the effectiveness of carefully designed natural flood management interventions.

A Joined-up Approach to Water Resilience

At FGS Pilcher, we understand that effective water management requires more than a single solution.

Our expertise spans the full spectrum of water resilience infrastructure, enabling clients to develop integrated strategies that address flooding, drought, water security and environmental enhancement together.

Our services include:

• Reservoir construction
• Wetland creation
• Natural flood management
• River restoration
• Floodplain reconnection
• Pond and scrape construction
• Land drainage
• Watercourse improvements
• Specialist earthworks
• Environmental habitat creation

By combining traditional civil engineering expertise with nature-based solutions, we help clients create landscapes that are more resilient to climate change while delivering long-term environmental, operational and economic benefits.

Long-Term Benefits

Projects such as the River Beult demonstrate how carefully planned natural flood management schemes continue delivering value long after construction has finished.

Ongoing monitoring of the site is helping to assess:

• Hydrological performance
• Water quality improvements
• Habitat establishment
• Biodiversity gains
• Flood attenuation performance
• Long-term climate resilience

The data collected will help inform future catchment restoration projects across the UK, demonstrating how nature-based solutions can play a central role in building resilient landscapes that support communities, agriculture and the environment.