A natural flood management scheme that is aiming to reduce the flood risk for those living downstream is now in place at a nature reserve in South Oxfordshire.
The purpose of the scheme at Littleworth Nature Reserve is to slow the flow of water through the railway cutting at the site.
The aim is also to provide temporary water storage within the nature reserve itself.
It is hoped this will lead to a reduced flood risk for both Littleworth and Wheatley, areas which have previously suffered during times of prolonged rainfall.
The new scheme has seen South Oxfordshire District Council partnering with Oxfordshire County Council to use £21,350 of funding awarded by the Environment Agency.
The Freshwater Habitat Trust was contracted for the design of the scheme.
South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for environment, councillor Sam James-Lawrie, said: "This is a great example of how we can make changes using natural means to create flood management schemes, using resources such as nature reserves and trees.
"Employing measures such as these will become more and more important as we adapt to changes to our climate."
In addition, the entrance to a culvert, a structure that channels water, within the nature reserve has been cleared and an extra grate has been added upstream to trap leaves and silt.
This will reduce the risk of the main entrance to the culvert getting blocked.
A series of natural ‘hinge’ dams were created using eight willow trees on site.
This process involved cutting part way through the tree trunks and folding them over, leaving the tree still attached to the stump so that the dam remains a living structure.
Contractors also installed willow spiling - weaving branches between wooden stakes to act as a natural flood barrier along the route of water in the railway cutting.
This creates a hedge-like structure that will help to slow the flow of water outwards.
Both the hinged trees and willow spiling should resprout and take root, strengthening the structures over time and increasing channel 'roughness'.
Councillor Pete Sudbury, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council with responsibility for climate change, environment and future generations, added: "Flooding is devastating for those who experience and sometimes even those who witness it, and our climate is changing in ways that make it more common and difficult to prevent.
"That’s why we need as much land as possible to be managed in ways that help hold back or absorb excess rain.
"Schemes like this are part of the solution, and also create benefits for local habitats."
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