stop 7

Stop 7 - Broad Oak Road Allotments

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	Homes at risk of floods Houses here back direcltly on to the river leaving them at risk to flooding. Notice the sandbags placed next to the river.

Wier This part of the river still has evidence of management. This wier has various functions, it churns the water up, causing it to take in air for fish to breath and the water level above the wier is kept deeper for boats.

	Allotments The allotments are on a flood plain, and are therefore subject to flooding. A river in flood has sufficient energy to carry sediment in suspension (this makes the water brown in colour). When the flood water subsides this sediment (which contains minerals and nutrients) is deposited on the floodplain and is mixed in to the soil making it more fertile. This rich allotment soil is a good place to grow vegetables.

Homes free from floods Across the road from the allotments are houses. These are slightly higher than the floodplain and allotments so they will not flood when the river level rises.