Whit Beck at Lonscale Farm: Boulder step cascade channel, new culvert and gully stabilisation

Whit Beck Culvert Renewal & Gully Stabilisation Project
Delivered on behalf of West Cumbria Rivers Trust

As the principal contractor, we were engaged by West Cumbria Rivers Trust to deliver a suite of river enhancement and flood resilience measures at Whit Beck, with a focus on improving fish passage, reducing erosion, and restoring natural hydrological function.

Key Works Undertaken:

• Culvert Replacement: The existing, undersized 400mm culvert pipes were replaced with a 2.1-metre diameter pipe to significantly increase flow capacity and enable fish passage to valuable upstream spawning grounds.

• Gravel Management: Approximately 300m³ of gravel was excavated from upstream of the culvert. This material was then sustainably repurposed to regrade steep gully slopes and stabilise areas affected by past storm-driven erosion.

• Channel Restoration: A new meandering section of channel was created above the culvert, incorporating 22 strategically placed boulder steps to enhance habitat and dissipate flow energy.

• Gully Stabilisation: Large-scale incision caused by high-energy storm events was addressed through a combination of slope regrading and gravel redistribution.

• Natural Flow Control Features: Bed check weirs were constructed using locally sourced fallen trees, helping to slow water velocity, reduce erosion risk, and support sediment deposition.

• Bank Restoration: Riverbanks were regraded, re-seeded, and planted with goat willow to stabilise soils, support biodiversity, and enhance the riparian corridor.

This project is a strong example of nature-based engineering, delivering improvements in river health, fish connectivity, and landscape resilience while making effective use of on-site resources.