THE Milford Preservation Group (MPG), in partnership with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, has completed a major restoration project on the River Bourne and on the island below the Milford Mill Road bridge.

David Lovibond of the MPG says the £4000 project has restored the open setting of Grade 1 Listed medieval bridge and will allow local people to properly see the beauty of the Bourne for the first time in decades.

He said: “This river crossing has been in continuous use since the Roman occupation, and the present bridge dates from the 1490s. But in recent years the island below the bridge has been colonised by willows and obscured with underbrush.

"This has encouraged the dumping of litter and other rubbish. Volunteers from the MPG, working under the expert supervision of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, have transformed the island and riverbanks into places of beauty and wildlife habitat – a corner of old England in a busy world.”

Salisbury Journal:

Nick Wilson from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust was project manager of the restoration work, and said: “By pollarding the large crack willows on the island we’ve built three woody habitat structures into the river.

"This will increase biodiversity around the island by improving the habitat quality for fish, water voles, and many other plant and animal species.”

Mr Wilson said that pollarding improves the longevity of the trees, which will vigorously regrow in the spring.

He added: “More light has been let into the understory vegetation, enhancing wildflower growth and diversity. Kingfisher perches have been created and the woody structures have been placed in such a way to work with, and enhance, the natural processes of the river to increase sinuosity within the channel, and allowing the river to support a greater abundance of wildlife.”

Salisbury Journal:

The project was made possible by grants from Salisbury Area Board, Southern Wiltshire Area Board, Laverstock and Ford Parish Council, and Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.

Mr Lovibond added:“On behalf of the Milford Preservation Group, I would like to thank the invaluable support these bodies have given us. This important project would not have been possible without it.”

For more information go to milfordpreservationgroup.com