Horsbere Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme
Horsbere Brook FAS was built by the Environment Agency in response to the 2007 flooding to protect over 350 homes in Elmbridge and Longlevens. The scheme is located adjacent to the A417 Barnwood Link Road (what3words ///hill.shut.cared) (grid. ref SO866189).
Completed in 2011, 120,000 cubic meters of earth were excavated to provide a large flood storage pond. The earth was used for landscaping onsite to create ‘The Mound’ an area for tree planting and grassland restoration.
The scheme is designed to provide protection from flooding with a 1 in 100 chance of occurring in this location in any one year. When flow in Horsbere brook increases, excess water flows into the storage area and is gradually released back into the Brook when river flow decreases. The site has a total storage capacity of 170, 000 cubic meters.
The site includes hedgerows, new and established woodland, grassland and aquatic habitats.
Who looks after Horsbere Brook FAS?
In 2014, Gloucester City Council took on management of the site as a community nature reserve. We work in partnership with the Environment Agency to manage the site for people and wildlife. The area now provides over 50 acres of biodiversity habitat.
Friends of Horsbere Brook
Through the tireless work of volunteers and the Friends of Horsbere Brook projects onsite include:
- Tree planting – 3500 community woodland, 2000 hedgerow trees, 650 hazel copse, 12 pear tree orchard, 875 tree Queens Green Canopy Woodland and recently another 3687 tree QGC woodland funded as part of the Urban Greening Project.
- Wildflower Sowing – seed has been collected from Hucclecote Meadows SSSI and funded by Urban Greening Project has been hand sown onsite.
- Hedgelaying – hedges planted and now laid by volunteers
Further details can be found on the community events page or Friends of Horsbere Brook.
How to contact us
Countryside Unit - Robinswood Hill Country Park Reservoir Road Gloucester, GL4 6SX Tel: 01452 303 206