On the north eastern side of Marlborough the Lower Og runs through a water meadow before joining the Kennet. In 2014 ARK, in collaboration with Marlborough Town Council, completed a habitat restoration project to improve this open space for wildlife and create a permissive path to enable public access.
This restoration work has increased fish spawning and nursery habitats of wild brown trout. The more sinuous river channel, now planted with flag iris and sedge, now supports healthy weed growth. The gravel bed is also kept cleaner because livestock are fenced out to reduce bank erosion and sediment from entering the water.
Funded by Defra’s Catchment Restoration Fund, this space provides an ideal educational resource for local schools.
ARK objected to a planning proposal to drain 1.8 ha of land in this area.
