Nestled in a bowl amongst the hills of West Dorset is the picturesque town of Beaminster with its listed stone cottages, bustling market square and thriving independent businesses. As you walk around it becomes evident that those hills channel water from countless streams and springs to feed the river that bubbles under and alongside many of the streets.
The river Brit itself rises just a few miles north of the town and is joined in the town by tributaries before it spills out into the Natural Landscape (formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) of Millground Meadow and on, along the boundary of Parnham Park, to Netherbury.
Over the years parts of the river have been moved into artificial channels which have sped up flow and removed the slowing and filtering effects of the natural floodplains. As a result, flooding in areas such as Netherbury has increased dramatically and water quality has been reduced.
Dorset National Landscape and West Dorset Wilding, among other groups, have been working on a scheme to reconnect various parts of the river to five hectares of floodplain which will slow the flow to a more natural level along with providing clearer water and a much improved wetland habitat for the wide variety of wildlife to be found locally including kingfishers, grass snakes, otters, owls and bats. The first phases are complete and recent heavy rains have demonstrated the effectiveness and beauty of the river being allowed to do what comes naturally.
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All of this is in stark contrast to the mooted plan to build more than 80 luxury properties along the banks of the Brit at Parnham Park which would undoubtedly cause irreversible destruction to this sensitive and valuable area.
You can help by:
- Objecting to the Parnham planning proposals via the Dorset Council website
- Volunteering on a project to support Dorset National Landscape, or
- Joining West Dorset Wilding