VISITORS to Chorley’s Yarrow Valley Country Park can expect to see improvements to the Yarrow Meadows which will benefit local communities, visitors and wildlife.

Chorley Council, which owns Yarrow Meadows, is working with the Environment Agency and partners in the Douglas Catchment Partnership to carry out the Yarrow Meadow Masterplan to improve the water environment and reduce risks to communities and wildlife.

Cllr Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, said: “Yarrow Valley Country Park is a popular destination for people in the Chorley area and visitors from further afield. We have already carried out improvements to the car park and some footpaths within the country park but we are now looking to improve the Yarrow Meadows.

“The main aim of the Yarrow Meadows Masterplan is to reduce the risk of flooding for the benefit of our communities, visitors and wildlife.”

Yarrow Meadows is in the river valley which runs the length of Yarrow Valley Way near Gillibrand.

The Yarrow Meadows Masterplan seeks to deliver natural flood management interventions on the site to slow the flow of water to communities at risk.

The masterplan will build on the good work already invested in the Croston Flood Alleviation Scheme as well as enhancing the flood plain of the River Yarrow within Yarrow Valley Country Park.

Cllr Bradley added: “We are aware that flooding in Croston has been an issue for some years so we are working alongside the Croston Flood Alleviation Scheme to continue reducing the risk of floods with improvement to the Yarrow Meadows.

“We hope that this will be a huge benefit for the Chorley borough as it will reduce the risk of floods in the long term. We are excited to see the masterplan come to life and we hope that members of the public will continue to enjoy the popular outdoor area.”

Work will include floodplain connectivity, bank rehabilitation, preservation or restoration of habitats, removal or softening of hard banks and woodland management.