A Community group breathing new life into the River Mel
External Links below
NEW - Anglian Water Interactive Live Storm Overflow Map
What we do
The River Mel Restoration Group (RMRG) seek to enhance and protect the river in Meldreth and Melbourn by running regular working parties to repair and maintain the river and its environs. We also monitor water quality and habitat with invertebrate surveys
Next Working Party
Saturday 14th September
Venue Melbourn, Little Hands 09.30
CANCELLED due to illness
RMRG Working party dates for 2024
Saturday 14th September
Saturday 19th October
Saturday 23rd November
NB Dates may change depending upon river and weather conditions and availability of working party leaders.
Venues:
The venue will be determined by the work leaders prior to the working party based on the jobs needed to be carried out. Members will be informed of the venue through the reminder email sent out a few days prior to the working party.
Sightings
Water voles have been seen upstream of Mel Wood, The little Egret has returned to Meldreth and is seen regularly fishing the stream. Water Levels remain high.
April 2021 Moorhens have successfully nested upstream of Melwood
April 2022. Water Voles and Mallard Ducklings in Meldreth
April 2023 signs of spring
May 2023 Moorhen and 2 chicks
June 2023 Water Vole in Meldreth also Mallard and 10 Ducklings
Renovation of Access point on Melbourn playing fields
Access Point 2022
The access point to the river on the Melbourn Playing field, installed in 2012, has proved to be a popular feature, but ten years of constant use has taken its toll. Some judicious repairs have extended its useful life, but this year we felt that the time had come for a more substantial repair as the leading edge had been eroded and was becoming dangerous.
With support and finance from the Melbourn Parish Council, a major repair project was undertaken by the group at the beginning of July. With the work planned to be spread over three days, the old reinforcements were removed, the soil dug out to bed level and four reclaimed railway sleepers were used to reinforce the front edge. Soil retaining geotextile was laid behind the sleepers and the area backfilled with a mixture of soil and gravel. The gravel should improve drainage and the geotextile will help prevent soil being washed under the sleepers and into the river. Once the infill was tamped down, a robust soil retaining matting was laid over the area to help prevent surface erosion by rain and wet dogs.
We were fortunate to be able to use the services of Meldreth Plant Hire, who were engaged to do the groundworks. Their previous expertise in river work and their willingness to “go the extra mile” resulted in the project coming in on schedule and on budget.
July 2024
Relocation of Fish from Downstream of Topcliffe's Mill to Upstream
The Wild Trout Trust and Environment Agency enable the repopulation of the upper river by relocating fish
