Chalk stream wetland restored near Norwich data centre site

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 07:02 · Archive

A new wetland has been created at Keswick Marsh on the outskirts of Norwich to restore a rare chalk-stream habitat.

A new wetland has been completed at Keswick Marsh on the outskirts of Norwich to restore a rare chalk-stream habitat. The Environment Agency, Norfolk Rivers Trust and Water Resources East reshaped the riverbank and floodplain on the banks of the River Yare. New ponds were created and ditches reshaped to allow water to spread naturally across the floodplain during winter. The improvements cost around £97,000.

Wildlife has already returned to the site. Donna Dean, restoration and catchment development manager at Norfolk Rivers Trust, said egrets, coots, shelducks, newts, dragonflies, foxes and a little ringed plover have been recorded visiting the works, some of them new records for the site. Officials say inland wetland birds, amphibians and wetland plants will benefit from the restoration.

The project sits close to land earmarked for a proposed data centre. Norwich Apex Ltd wants to build a 150MW data centre on land adjacent to the A140, opposite Tesco Superstore, around 600 metres away. Local concerns about the data centre include its potential environmental impacts on the surrounding area.

How it is being reported

• Rare chalk stream habitat under the shadow of huge proposed data centre is restoredA new wetland designed to boost wildlife at a marsh close to where a new data centre could be built at the edge of Norwich has been completed.Eastern Daily Press · 15 Oct, 06:00
• Rare chalk stream habitat under the shadow of huge proposed data centre is restoredA new wetland designed to boost wildlife at a marsh close to where a new data centre could be built at the edge of Norwich has been completed.Norwich Evening News · 15 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Norwich · Keswick Marsh · River Yare · Norfolk Rivers Trust · Environment Agency · Norwich Apex Ltd · Donna Dean

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