Wood in river Restoration (WiRe)
Characterising and optimising the impact of large wood on fluvial ecosystems in river restoration: a multi-scale approach
Large wood is increasingly recognised as a cost-effective nature-based solution that enhances biodiversity, improves water quality, reduces flood risk, and restores natural river processes. Our project seeks to collect evidence to support a framework for its effective use in the river restoration toolkit, utilising a multi-scale approach to characterise impact on hydrology and geomorphology.
About the project
Current policy and management frameworks lack underpinning evidence and clear guidance on how best to design and implement large wood interventions across different river types and scales, and misconceptions remain about the role of large wood as a hazard.
Funded by NERC and in partnership with a broad suite of project partners nationally (including the RRC) our project combines field studies, advanced modelling, and machine learning/AI approaches to quantify how large wood influences hydrology, sediment dynamics, and ecosystem recovery.
The outcomes that we envisage from this project will provide robust science-based recommendations for the sustainable use of large wood in river restoration which will feed directly into national and international guidance such as the Manual of River Restoration Techniques (The River Restoration Centre), directly supporting national policy goals for biodiversity net gain, climate adaptation, and resilient water management.
Duration: Three years October 2025 - September 2028
Project Team
- Diego Panici
- Alan Puttock
- Roger Auster
- Georgie Bennett
- Richard Brazier
- Daniella Montali-Ashworth
- Ben Jackson
- Jessica Kitch
- Kyle Roskilly
- Mark Naylor
- Matt Gervais
- Ghazaleh Nassaji Matin
- Nathan Strathdee
Funded by
- UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Project partners
- National Trust
- The Rivers Trust
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
- The River Dee Trust
- South West Lakes Trust
- South West Water
- Natural England
- The River Restoration Centre
- Devon Wildlife Trust
- Environment Agency
Ghazaleh Nassaji Matin, Diego Panici, Georgie Bennett, Richard Brazier, Understanding the role of large wood in restoring river systems across scales and structures: A systematic review, Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 277, 2026, 105450, ISSN 0012-8252, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105450