This week saw the Summer Solstice which marks the longest day of the year with approximately 17 hours of sunshine. Thereafter the days in the northern hemisphere, slowly shorten.

And so it was that TWiG (Tattenhall Wildlife Group) held their Summer Solstice Walk.

In quite spectacular weather and with a guided tour of the new 'Flacca Wetland', they were able to witness first hand the flood prevention measures which have been undertaken by the Environment Agency.

It was terrific to see lots of newcomers enjoy this area of outstanding beauty within our village and to make sense of the need to slow the flow of the Mill Brook; most recently tested with the flash floods!

We include photographs, some taken from an almost identical position, which show:

*April; where the reed has been cut, the banks of the Mill Brook lowered on the right hand side to create a retention pond and the woody debris used to create a dam thereby slowing the flow and also allowing water to spill over into the retention pond and surrounding areas

*June; where the reed has regrown on either side of the Mill Brook thereby filtering the water, and the retention pond which now fills and empties as part of a dynamic system in slowing the flow on the Mill Brook. In these photographs the dam is now completely concealed by the reeds.

Images by kind permission of Keith Titchener. Click on each image to enlarge.