Restoring Natural Flow in Northumberland: How Skippy Scout Supported The River Till Restoration Strategy

Open

A major milestone for nature recovery has been reached in Northumberland, where one of the largest river-restoration projects in the UK has now been completed. The project is a key element of the River Till restoration strategy and is located on the Harehope Estate, South of Wooler. The River Till and its tributaries, including the River Breamish flow through one of the most picturesque landscapes in England within Northumberland. 

In this area the channel had been straightened and embanked for centuries to make way for intensive farming, losing around one mile of its natural meanders. These historic alterations disconnected the river from its floodplain, reduced biodiversity and increased flood risk for places downstream.

The restoration forms a key part of the LIFE WADER (Water and Disturbance Environmental Restoration) nature-recovery programme and the wider River Till Restoration Strategy. It was delivered through a partnership including Natural England, the Environment Agency, Tweed Forum and the landowners at Harehope Estate. The project sought not only to reshape the river but to restore the natural processes that create a healthy, functioning ecosystem.

To understand how the river once behaved, the team drew on historic maps dating back centuries, combined with modern LiDAR mapping to reveal the original meandering pattern. This evidence guided the excavation and reconnection of the river to its historic course.

Key works included:

• diverting the river into its former meanders

• breaching embankments to allow natural flooding

• creating new wetland features and shallow pools

• installing woody material to influence flow and support habitat creation

• forming silt traps to improve water quality and sediment management

With these interventions complete, the river has already begun to spill naturally onto the restored floodplain during rainfall, creating varied wetland habitat and reconnecting the landscape in ways not seen for generations.

Throughout the project and beyond, Skippy Scout has played an important role in helping the team monitor progress consistently and at high resolution. With the restoration area changing quickly during earthworks, reliable imagery became essential.

Skippy Scout makes it simple to capture clear, repeatable images at fixed points across the site. These photographs help engineers and ecologists assess ground conditions, observe early signs of channel adjustment and understand how the landscape is developing, without needing repeated site walks across challenging terrain.

The addition of Sphere imagery provides a wider perspective of the evolving landscape. Each panoramic capture helps the team track how banks, wetlands and flows are forming together, giving a fuller understanding of how the restored system is taking shape. This visual record continues to support quicker, well-informed decisions as the site progresses.

Philip Kearney, Contracts & Project Manager at Tweed Forum said “Skippy Scout provided by Drone Ag has been a key part of our monitoring plan for the restoration project. A schedule of planned surveys was completed prior to the start of the works and continued at regular intervals throughout the construction period, allowing us to track changes during the design phase and monitor progress during construction. Regular drone flights will continue for some time now that the works are complete. 

The flexibility of the drone surveys meant we could arrange them at short notice to coincide with high water levels, enabling us to capture images and assess how the works respond under those conditions. The website interface lets us share up to date information with the wider project team, and we routinely use it during team calls to review current photographs and support decision making, reducing the need for additional travel and site visits."

Click here to view the river restoration project sphere

Open

Even at this early stage, the river is showing signs of recovery. Plants such as water crowfoot have appeared in the re-meandered channel, and fish including salmon and sea trout are moving through the restored reaches on their way to spawning grounds. Birds such as heron and kingfisher are becoming more visible, and the developing wetlands are supporting insects and other species linked to healthy river systems.

Although the construction phase is complete, the river will continue to change as natural processes take over. Partners will keep monitoring the site to track improvements in habitat, water quality and wildlife. The data and experience gained here will help shape similar projects across the country.

Skippy Scout will remain a valuable tool in this next phase, helping document how the landscape matures and providing a clear, consistent visual record of the river's continued recovery. 

Drone Ag is delighted to have been involved in such a meaningful restoration effort on Harehope Estate. Supporting the partners with imagery has been a privilege, and the team is proud that Skippy Scout could play a part in helping the river return to a more natural, resilient state.