The River Nar, a rare chalk stream weaving through the Norfolk countryside, has already seen successful restoration along several sections. This latest phase, delivered in partnership with Swallowtail, continues that momentum, revitalising another key stretch as part of a broader ambition to reconnect the Nar to its natural floodplain.

Working with the river rather than against it, this project will re-route the Nar out into the floodplain, restoring the gentle, meandering flow that defines a healthy chalk stream. The current over-deep, silty trench will be transformed into a diverse and dynamic channel, wide and shallow, alive with gravel riffles, deep pools, flowering margins, and naturally placed fallen trees.

With this transformation, biodiversity will return in abundance. Bur-reed monoculture will give way to a rich tapestry of chalk stream plants—ranunculus, water parsnip, starwort—providing ideal habitat for species such as brown trout, native crayfish, mayflies, and water voles.

This restoration is not an isolated effort—it’s a critical piece of a larger puzzle, offering foundational support for other interventions up and down the Nar, steadily returning the river to the thriving sanctuary it once was.