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Work at Chapel Hill on the River Witham is going well and is nearly finished. The project team has strengthened the riverbank to make it more resilient to flooding. We have repaired damage caused by tree roots and rebuilt the bank using clay to make it stronger and more stable.
We have also improved access for local people. The footpath on top of the bank has been raised, improved, and moved slightly inland. This will also help reduce erosion and keep the path in good condition for longer.
Good progress has also been made on the access rampContinue reading
Chapel Hill
Work at Chapel Hill on the River Witham is going well and is nearly finished. The project team has strengthened the riverbank to make it more resilient to flooding. We have repaired damage caused by tree roots and rebuilt the bank using clay to make it stronger and more stable.
We have also improved access for local people. The footpath on top of the bank has been raised, improved, and moved slightly inland. This will also help reduce erosion and keep the path in good condition for longer.
Good progress has also been made on the access ramp for boaters and pedestrians. The ramp now has a solid stone surface and a gentler slope, making it easier to use. Only final touches remain, including adding topsoil and sowing grass seed.
Near the bridge, where water has overtopped in the past, the team will replace stone with clay and reinstate the height of the embankment. This will help reduce flood risk during high water levels. A small area near the bridge will also be fenced off to create a community space for people to enjoy the riverside.
Most work along this stretch of the river is almost complete. The final steps include installing timber fencing, tidying the site, and sowing grass seed. If the weather allows, all work will be finished by the end of the week.
River Witham bank crest works near completion.
Public access to a nearby campsite.
Woodhall Spa
Works have continued to progress well. Most of the 1,000 tonnes of clay has now been placed and compacted. Topsoil is currently being added, and all main works are planned to be completed by mid‑April.
Clay installation works are continuing along with topsoiling.
Since January, good progress has been made at several locations along the Lower Witham.
At Chapel Hill, we have now reinstated the embankment crest to improve flood resilience in the area. The team is finishing the last stages of the work, including shaping the slopes and adding the final surface. Once this is complete, as the landowner we will allow people to use the crest as a walking route. This will create a new opportunity for riverside access while still providing flood protection for the community.
Works in progress at Chapel Hill.
Works nearing completion along the embankment crest at
Since January, good progress has been made at several locations along the Lower Witham.
At Chapel Hill, we have now reinstated the embankment crest to improve flood resilience in the area. The team is finishing the last stages of the work, including shaping the slopes and adding the final surface. Once this is complete, as the landowner we will allow people to use the crest as a walking route. This will create a new opportunity for riverside access while still providing flood protection for the community.
Works in progress at Chapel Hill.
Works nearing completion along the embankment crest at Chapel Hill.
At Southrey, we have completed work to repair a low spot in front of the White Horse Inn. This strengthens that stretch of the bank and helps ensure a more consistent level of defence.
Completed repairs at Southrey.
At Billinghay a section of bank on Skirth Road has now been restored and grass seeded. This will provide better protection against overtopping in the future.
Embankment repairs in progress at Billinghay.
Works at Billinghay near completion before the grass seed.
Further downstream of Kirkstead Bridge, we have started work on additional low spots repairs along the Witham bank to improve resilience here too.
Completed works at Woodhall Spa.
At the same time, work to protect the toe of the embankments is getting underway. This will be delivered under a separate contract by Jackson Civil Engineering in partnership with Rothen Group. A temporary compound is now set up at Langrick, where stone is loaded onto a barge and taken by tug to the work sites. The stone is placed at the base of the embankment to repair erosion before the barge returns for more. Using this method, the team can install around 100 tonnes of stone per day. You can check out a video of the stone being being loaded onto a barge in our videos section- Videos | Lower Witham Flood Resilience Project | Engage Environment Agency.
Stone being placed at the toe of an embankment
Stone in place at the toe of the embankment.
Before we start these works, we need to cut back some of the vegetation so we have a safe and clear area to work in. Plants along the river are a vital part of the ecosystem but in some instances, they can make the embankments more susceptible to damage. We have only cleared areas we need so we can repair the embankments correctly.
In November, Breheny Civil Engineering won the contract to deliver earthworks for this project. Their work includes addressing low spots, managing seepage, and other elements relating to raised riverbanks.
Since then, works have been progressing well across several smaller sites in the Lower Witham area. Throughout December earthworks were completed at five sites. This involved the team topping up low embankment areas, carrying out localised repairs, and removing vegetation to improve long-term resilience.
At some sites, soil has been added to raise low areas, then seeded with grass and covered with a biodegradable geotextile. This material helps grass germinate andContinue reading
In November, Breheny Civil Engineering won the contract to deliver earthworks for this project. Their work includes addressing low spots, managing seepage, and other elements relating to raised riverbanks.
Since then, works have been progressing well across several smaller sites in the Lower Witham area. Throughout December earthworks were completed at five sites. This involved the team topping up low embankment areas, carrying out localised repairs, and removing vegetation to improve long-term resilience.
At some sites, soil has been added to raise low areas, then seeded with grass and covered with a biodegradable geotextile. This material helps grass germinate and stabilises the soil while roots establish. Once the grass takes hold, the covering naturally breaks down, leaving a strengthened embankment. You may see this method used more widely where embankments are raised.
Biodegradable geotextile covering an area where a low spot has recently been raised. Along the Witham Bank roadside flood wall, we have strengthened foundations by excavating a narrow trench and installing compacted clay. This reduces seepage risk and prevents future settlement of the wall. The defence height will now be improved by building a low concrete-bag wall to tie the embankment into the existing flood wall.
Excavation works carried out along a stretch of the Witham Bank flood wall.
Works completed along a stretch of the Witham Bank flood wall.
Works were paused over Christmas and will resume in the New Year.
We are pleased to share the Full Business Case for this part of project has been approved. This means the team can now move ahead with delivering works on the ground, where funding allows.
Preparations are already underway. The works have been put out to tender, and we've recently completed the evaluation process. Our preferred supplier will be announced by the end of October. In the meantime, the team is identifying areas where vegetation will need to be removed to reduce flood risk and allow space for maintenance works. We're also working with Lincolnshire County Council to apply for anyContinue reading
We are pleased to share the Full Business Case for this part of project has been approved. This means the team can now move ahead with delivering works on the ground, where funding allows.
Preparations are already underway. The works have been put out to tender, and we've recently completed the evaluation process. Our preferred supplier will be announced by the end of October. In the meantime, the team is identifying areas where vegetation will need to be removed to reduce flood risk and allow space for maintenance works. We're also working with Lincolnshire County Council to apply for any necessary footpath closures.
When we remove habitat such as trees and bushes for flood defence work, we must replace it elsewhere. This is known as mitigation. We are now planning the first phase of mitigation planting to replace vegetation removed during the embankment works. This will include planting new trees.
The work will take place next to Hardy Gang Wood, part of the Bardney Limewoods and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). While the new planting won’t automatically become part of the SSSI, the team is planning to use a similar mix of tree species to complement the existing woodland.
We are working closely with partners including Lincolnshire County Council, the Internal Drainage Board, Natural England, Forestry England, and the tenant farmer to make sure the planting fits with their needs and the local landscape.
The project team has worked hard to develop the Full Business Case for the Phase One Embankment works. This has now been submitted for approval. Once approved this will confirm the funding for the project and will allow the team to begin delivering works on the ground.
The project team has worked hard to develop the Full Business Case for the Phase One Embankment works. This has now been submitted for approval. Once approved this will confirm the funding for the project and will allow the team to begin delivering works on the ground.
Works in progress at Chapel Hill.
Works nearing completion along the embankment crest at
