Vegetation restricts mine pollution in Upper Teesdale, UK
A novel project is helping the 200km of rivers that are reported to be polluted by metals from long-abandoned metal mines feeding into the River Tees.
By encouraging new plants to grow next to Great Eggleshope Beck, Little Eggleshope Beck and Marl Beck, less rainwater will wash over into the mine waste, reducing erosion and the amount of heavy metals washed into the becks.
In Teesdale and Swaledale, more than three hectares of plants from locally sourced seed have been planted in Middleton-in-Teesdale. The plants boost biodiversity by creating a rare calaminarian grassland - a metal tolerant plant found in the North Pennines.
Following successful trials in Great Eggleshope Beck in 2023, a novel hydroseeding technique spreads seed and mulch mixed with water by a hose to create erosion resistant layers for vegetation to be established.
Mandie Kirk, from the Mining Remediation Authority, highlighted the ‘nature-focused methods’ used across the sites in the Tees and Swale catchments.
The Government claim the work will improve water quality in the Tees catchment and support the Environment Act target to halve the length of rivers polluted by harmful metals from abandoned metal mines by 2038.
Other developments include reprofiling mine wastes at the Marl Beck site and a large stone placed near Little Eggleshope riverbank with a similar aim.
The work was delivered as part of the North Pennines National Landscape, Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme, which aims to restore, expand and connect habitats.
The vegetation project was led by the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines (WAMM) programme. Partners include the Tees Rivers Trust, Environment Agency and the Mining Remediation Authority. Funding is primarily from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through the WAMM programme.
