Work will restore river's curves

The team will restore the natural curves and bends of the river

A major conservation project is under way to restore the natural curves and bends of the Lymington River running through the New Forest.

Victorian engineers straightened it about 150 years ago as part of a drainage project.

But restoration work, which began in June, will restore the river's natural flood plain in a series of stages.

Once completed it should halt erosion in the river banks downstream and help prevent serious flooding.

Original meanders

Engineers are currently carrying out the £300,000 restoration of the river at Warwickslade, which should be completed by October.

They used old maps and aerial photographs as well as specialist local knowledge to uncover the original meanders.

Nick Tucker, from the the Forestry Commission, said visitors to the New Forest looked for a sense of history as part of their visit.

"There are many places in the forest where you can achieve that sort of thing.

"We are not doing it for those reasons, but if that is how it is benefitting things it's a fantastic result as well," he added.

The project is part of a planned phase of work into rivers and mires across the New Forest which is expected to take six years.