National Highways is helping fund a major Devon County Council scheme to de-silt a lake within a Site of Special Scientific Interest alongside the A38.
Among other things, the scheme will encourage the return of white water lilies.
A second phase of environmental and biodiversity work has just started at Stover Country Park near Newton Abbot with a contribution of £847,762 from the government-owned company’s environment and wellbeing designated fund.
In 2019, Highways England (as it was then known) funded a giant reedbed filtration system designed to capture and filter water run-off from the A38, to help improve water quality and enhance biodiversity and wildlife habitats within the park.
It said the initial scheme has produced significant improvements in water quality, as well as biodiversity and an increase in bird and invertebrate species.
However, it has not achieved one of its original objectives – the return of white water lilies that have not been seen at the lake since 2007.
In partnership with Murlac Limited, Devon County Council and the Stover Park team are now de-silting the lake to further improve water quality.
It is hoped that reducing pollution and silt will help the lilies re-establish to provide a more diverse habitat.
National Highways project manager Michelle Reed said: ‘The earlier filtration scheme has been such a success, and the reed beds themselves are supporting a range of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
‘Our work goes beyond the traditional focus of road investment and beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads, and we’re expecting the de-silting work to bring further benefits to the park and for the many people who visit and use the site.’
Devon CC cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport Andrea Davis said: ‘The sustainable reedbed drainage system that was installed a few years ago has proven extremely effective in improving water quality and restoring biodiversity.
‘This latest investment will build on that success to have a further positive environmental impact at Stover, alongside further restoration work across the country park.’
Pipework and other dredging equipment have now been installed at the Stover Lake site and the work is expected to be completed in July,
