A river in Somerset has been reconnected to its original floodplain in a project designed to mitigate the impact of climate change. The Aller River on Exmoor was diverted 1.2km (0.74 miles) from its man-made channel, allowing it to find its natural course for the first time.
Project manager Ben Eardley of the National Trust described the initiative as 'the equivalent of a computer reset', letting the river decide its own path. The scheme aims to slow water flow, reduce flooding, and create a complex waterscape of channels, pools, wetlands, and marshes to boost biodiversity.
Dr Stewart Clarke, National Trust specialist in freshwater, said: 'We are creating the best possible conditions for the river to adapt to more severe floods and droughts predicted with climate change.' Additional trees and scrub are being planted to provide shade and create a cooler microclimate.
This is the first time such a river reset has been attempted on a main river of this scale in the UK. The National Trust says the project is crucial for trialling new techniques to tackle the nature and climate crisis.
