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Divert water to the principal drain
- These are shallow excavations that run parallel to the road. Their main function is to divert water to the principal drain and thus prevent excess water from running on to the road surface.
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People also ask
What is a ditch used for?
Why are ditches so important?
Why do we dig ditches?
What is the purpose of ditch management?
What is a drainage ditch?
Do ditches need to be wet?
A ditch is a small to moderate trench created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage , to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation .
What is a ditch? Unlike streams, ditches are usually straight, follow linear field boundaries – often turning at right angles – and show little relationship with natural landscape contours. It can sometimes be difficult to separate them from heavily engineered small streams.
A ditch or a pond? Ditches were designed and dug to efficiently transfer excess water from the field to the watercourse with minimal maintenance. We can maintain this drainage function, but greatly improve the wildlife value and slow down water by simple ideas when digging ditches out.
- About Ditches
- Why You Should Manage Ditches
- Make Sure You Have Permission
- How to Manage Ditches
- Create New Ditches
Ditches are open channels that usually run along the boundaries of fields. They are man-made features, unlike rivers and streams which were formed by natural processes. Ditches can be part of extensive drainage systems. They carry water from field drains into streams and rivers. Ditches are also important for wildlife. They form a corridor that all...
The main purpose of ditch management is to maintain their drainage function. You can improve the wildlife value of ditches by managing them less frequently. Providing a range of different conditions will benefit many different species, for example: 1. insects, that need shallow water, muddy areas, and flower-rich bankside vegetation 2. birds like w...
You must get all necessary permissions before carrying out work on ditches. You may need permission from: 1. the Environment Agencyif your management of ditches will affect main rivers 2. your lead local flood authority or internal drainage boardif you are not on a main river You’ll need to get consent from Historic Englandbefore working on or near...
Cut banks
Mow ditch banks between 1 September and 1 April to avoid disturbing nesting wildlife. To maintain a range of vegetation structures: 1. avoid cutting all your bank vegetation at the same time - manage only short lengths each year 2. never cut both banks of a ditch in the same year 3. leave managed sections for up to 10 years before managing again 4. cut bankside vegetation no shorter than 10cm Clear scrub from the banks so that no more than 20% is heavily shaded. Leave occasional bushes along...
Remove silt
Dig out silt as required between 1 September and 1 April, to maintain the flow of water. You should: 1. maintain the original profile - do not deepen ditches as this can change water levels in surrounding wetlands 2. use the correct sized bucket so you do not damage the banks 3. remove silt from sections of the ditch on different rotations to provide conditions for a range of wildlife 4. leave each cleared section for at least 3 years before managing again Shallow sloping ditch sides provide...
Maintain water quality
Maintain good water quality in your ditches to protect the insects and plants that live there. You must follow the farming rules for water. These require you to take steps to stop manure, fertiliser or soil getting into water bodies. In arable fields you could create and maintain grass stripsalongside ditches. This helps to reduce runoff of soil, fertiliser and pesticides into the ditch. In grassland, you could fence livestock out and, where required, provide alternative drinking sources. Rea...
Create new ditches to raise water levels as part of a wetland creation or restoration scheme. Locate new ditches: 1. only in areas where they are already a feature of your local landscape 2. where they will not increase flood risk 3. where they will not damage sites of ecological interest or historic features To create a new ditch: 1. dig to a dept...
Ditches or watercourses are the responsibility of landowners (often called riparian owners). Roadside ditches normally belong to the adjoining landowner and not the highway authority,...
Ditches can be part of extensive drainage systems. They carry water from field drains into streams and rivers, helping to prevent flooding. Ditches and scrapes can be easily built into land management plans and farming practices to support local wildlife.
