What the Leen means to me

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• Living by the Leen in Bobbersmill

  by Leentotheright, about 2 months ago

  My house sits right besides the river Leen in Bobbersmill.

  I've lived here since my house was built in 2001.

  To this date (touch wood) the river has never flooded at my location though we've had numerous flood alerts over the years.

  I love being so close to the city centre yet being able toenjoy seeing the various birds/insects supported by the river.

  My home is behind what used to be the old Cussons Soap factory.

  It has long since been demolished and a a number of trees and bushes had started to grow and the bird population significantly increased... Continue reading

  My house sits right besides the river Leen in Bobbersmill.

  I've lived here since my house was built in 2001.

  To this date (touch wood) the river has never flooded at my location though we've had numerous flood alerts over the years.

  I love being so close to the city centre yet being able toenjoy seeing the various birds/insects supported by the river.

  My home is behind what used to be the old Cussons Soap factory.

  It has long since been demolished and a a number of trees and bushes had started to grow and the bird population significantly increased but the council advised the land handler that they needed to be taken down.

  A large line of 40ft conifers were removed. Starting at the Robin HHood railway line they ran at the back of our houses and met and bordered a large part of the Leen.

  Since they have been taken down and the trees and bushes etc removed from the site, the number of birds and insects have decreased dramatically.

  We would love to see the land bought and used to reintroduce bio diversity to the area whilst possibly making room for any potential overflow of the river should it rise to high levels.

  We also have Wades pond in the middle of our estate that has a none working sluice into the river. This presents a great opportunity for clean up and replanting of plant species.

  Trees also used to run down the banks of the Leen bordering the industrial estate in front of us but due to age and disease they were cut down just leaving exposed grassy banks.

  This area could be so much more than it is now and recent works have removed the bio diversity instead of increasing it.

  D. Oldham

  Meadow Brown Road

• Andrew Disney - Senior Flood Advisor - Environment Agency

  7 months ago

  I’ve lived and worked in Nottingham for many years now. It’s the place I started my own family and the place my daughters call home. As I reflect with age I feel the importance of place more than ever.

  I have spent the last 5 or 6 years been collecting flood risk data and evidence on the River Leen and during that time I have come to appreciate more and more the importance of this river to Nottingham and to the people that live and work close to the river. The River Leen is Nottingham’s river.

  I’ve met people who... Continue reading

  I’ve lived and worked in Nottingham for many years now. It’s the place I started my own family and the place my daughters call home. As I reflect with age I feel the importance of place more than ever.

  I have spent the last 5 or 6 years been collecting flood risk data and evidence on the River Leen and during that time I have come to appreciate more and more the importance of this river to Nottingham and to the people that live and work close to the river. The River Leen is Nottingham’s river.

  I’ve met people who really care about this river and that’s important to me. I want people to feel safe from flood risk, I want people to have a good quality environment that they feel proud of and can feel is theirs and is their own special part of Nottingham.

  I believe if we can create space for the River Leen to function more naturally and reduce the future risk of flooding that climate change presents, then we can also provide great access and spaces for people to connect and enjoy their local environment. That must surely support local businesses as well.

• Kira Besh - Catchment Coordinator - Environment Agency

  7 months ago

  The River Leen is a blue-green artery running through the length of Nottingham. It flows through and past woodland, parks, playing fields, nature reserves, neighbourhoods, hospitals, post-industrial land, business and other built-up areas. Some people even don't know that it's there. But when you discover it, it’s a secret that you have to share and shout about.

  For an urban river, its wildlife is diverse including: water vole, brown trout, eel and otter. But their habitat is fragmented and in need of restoring and healing. There are some great bits to visit and other areas of the river that need... Continue reading

  The River Leen is a blue-green artery running through the length of Nottingham. It flows through and past woodland, parks, playing fields, nature reserves, neighbourhoods, hospitals, post-industrial land, business and other built-up areas. Some people even don't know that it's there. But when you discover it, it’s a secret that you have to share and shout about.

  For an urban river, its wildlife is diverse including: water vole, brown trout, eel and otter. But their habitat is fragmented and in need of restoring and healing. There are some great bits to visit and other areas of the river that need some love. It suffers from litter, sewer and misconnected pipe pollution, barriers to fish, a constrained river channel, and surface water pollution from streets and drives. In some areas, it hidden from view, rendering it ‘invisible’.

  My involvement in the Leen, as Catchment Coordinator with the Environment Agency, is to bring people together to help improve the river and its tributaries to ‘good ecological status’. This means addressing the challenges the Leen faces through collaborative efforts. This includes drawing from our imagination, creativity and good examples from other urban rivers. We also need to pool knowledge and expertise. There is no ‘easy fix’ as the issues are very ingrained. But, with a little more love, care and attention, we can collectively begin to make the Leen river corridor a healthier and more inclusive space for wildlife and people.

• Luke Donnelly - Health and Wellbeing Officer

  7 months ago

  The River Leen holds significant value for Ashfield District Council, particularly in its role as a vital component of the area's green infrastructure and ecological network. Flowing through Annesley and adjacent to Hucknall, the river is part of a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing biodiversity, recreational access, and connectivity across the district. Ashfield District Council has actively collaborated with Nottinghamshire County Council and other partners to improve a 3km stretch of the River Leen, focusing on upgrading paths, creating new pedestrian and cycle links, and enriching habitats within Mill Lakes and Bestwood Country Parks. This work aligns with the council’s... Continue reading

  The River Leen holds significant value for Ashfield District Council, particularly in its role as a vital component of the area's green infrastructure and ecological network. Flowing through Annesley and adjacent to Hucknall, the river is part of a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing biodiversity, recreational access, and connectivity across the district. Ashfield District Council has actively collaborated with Nottinghamshire County Council and other partners to improve a 3km stretch of the River Leen, focusing on upgrading paths, creating new pedestrian and cycle links, and enriching habitats within Mill Lakes and Bestwood Country Parks. This work aligns with the council’s broader Green Infrastructure Strategy and conservation goals, which seek to preserve the unique character and natural heritage of areas like Annesley. The River Leen is not only a physical feature but also a symbol of the district’s commitment to sustainable development, community wellbeing, and environmental stewardship.

• Ross Levy- Transport Planner

  7 months ago

  I really enjoy walking along the River Leen between Bulwell and Basford. It provides such a welcome relief from the rush of the city on either side of this stretch of the river. It’s a route that puts a smile on my face as there’s always a friendly face (or animal) along the way to say hello to. By comparison to the trains and tram on the other side, it feels refreshing to walk at a slower pace and take in my surroundings and it’s the perfect place to catch some sunshine too. As a Transport Planner, it would be... Continue reading

  I really enjoy walking along the River Leen between Bulwell and Basford. It provides such a welcome relief from the rush of the city on either side of this stretch of the river. It’s a route that puts a smile on my face as there’s always a friendly face (or animal) along the way to say hello to. By comparison to the trains and tram on the other side, it feels refreshing to walk at a slower pace and take in my surroundings and it’s the perfect place to catch some sunshine too. As a Transport Planner, it would be great to improve connections to this area so that more people can travel actively along this route more often.

• Chloe Langley – Principal Officer in Flood Risk Management (Lead Local Flood Authority)

  7 months ago

  By looking at the interactions between surface water and the river, opportunities for greening the city and implementing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are abundant. Through better management of rain at its source, we could all contribute to reducing run-off to the river and improving water quality, as well as reducing risk of localised flooding issues. This could range from individual homeowners de-paving, utilising water butts and green roofs through to larger scale storage schemes through rain gardens and ponds in public spaces.

  The River Leen fascinates me on a personal level, with its rich history and its potential to become... Continue reading

  By looking at the interactions between surface water and the river, opportunities for greening the city and implementing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are abundant. Through better management of rain at its source, we could all contribute to reducing run-off to the river and improving water quality, as well as reducing risk of localised flooding issues. This could range from individual homeowners de-paving, utilising water butts and green roofs through to larger scale storage schemes through rain gardens and ponds in public spaces.

  The River Leen fascinates me on a personal level, with its rich history and its potential to become Nottingham’s favourite river in the future. If we all worked together to improve the health and flood risk of the River Leen, the future could look a little brighter (and greener) for all of us.

• Ray Gallagher - Engagement Officer - The Environment Agency

  9 months ago
  I have lived in Nottingham for the past 10 years and have worked with the Environment Agency the entire time.

  
  I was unaware of the river Leen until I started working on this project but I have since spent a lot of time walking the river and coming to understand its biodiversity, beauty and complexity.

  The whole project team is very passionate about the river and it has inspired me to do my part to help this historic watercourse reach its full potential once again.

  I have lived in Nottingham for the past 10 years and have worked with the Environment Agency the entire time.

  
  I was unaware of the river Leen until I started working on this project but I have since spent a lot of time walking the river and coming to understand its biodiversity, beauty and complexity.

  The whole project team is very passionate about the river and it has inspired me to do my part to help this historic watercourse reach its full potential once again.