THE Wenchford picnic site will close from next Monday (September) for between two and three weeks for works to be carried out on the weirs.

Forestry England, which owns the site near Blakeney, says the steps at the lower weir have partially collapsed because of erosion.

If action is not taken, the water will continue to erode and undermine the remaining structure.

Forestry England says the work is an opportunity to make the weirs more easily passable for fish such as eel, lamprey, trout and bullhead.

Fish that live in the watercourse struggle to move upstream across the weirs so rebuilding them in their current form is not the best course of action.

The steps in both upper and lower weirs will be removed entirely and the supporting stonework repaired where possible, and repointed.

The stream bed will be modified to allow a gradual slope with a natural rocky bed to prevent future erosion.

A larger area of beach will be created and measures taken to prevent further erosion of the stream banks.

The width of channel running through the weirs will be narrowed and stepping stones will be placed to allow better access to the beach area.

The stream will be temporarily dammed and rerouted to enable a safe and dry working area.

The modifications have been designed to retain as much of the history and heritage of the site as possible while improving passability for fish.

Forestry England say that although it has long been thought the weirs were in some way connected to the Blakeney furnace but there is no record of why they were built.

The work has been designed to retain as much of the original stonework as possible.

To find out more search for Wenchford Weir at www.forestryengland.uk or visit https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/wenchford-weir