Fobney Island's new wildlife haven Credit: Environment Agency
A wildlife haven has openedafter a revamp - thanks to a £500,000 facelift.
Fobney Island in Reading has seen rough grassland transformed into a wetlandhaven for nature.
The Environment Agency joined forces withReading Borough Council, Thames Water and the Thames Rivers Trust to carry outthe work.
The renovation work carriedout included additional flood storage, a restored river channel, new viewingpoints and disability access.
Graham Scholey, EnvironmentAgency Conservation Technical Specialist, said: "This project will make areal difference to the diversity of wildlife at the site."
Flood defence work has started in Sandwich to protect homes and businesses on the former Pfizer business park.
Some areas of Sandwich currently have a one in 20 chance of tidal flooding every year. The new scheme is intended to improve and raise defences on the banks of the River Stour.
Cllr Paul Carter, the leader of Kent County Council, and Andrew Pearce from the Environment Agency, explained why the scheme was so important.
The £20 million flood defence scheme will reduce the risk of tidal flooding to Sandwich and Stonar Loop. Currently there;s a 1 in 20 chance of tidal flooding for some properties in the area. The new tidal defence scheme will provide a 1 in 200 standard protection to more than 500 properties.
Work to protect homes and businesses from flooding gets underway today. The Sandwich Town Tidal Defence Scheme will affect 488 homes and 94 commercial properties. It's got backing from the Environment Agency, Kent County Council and Pfizer.
An investigation is continuing into how more than a hundred birds came to be covered in a mysterious sticky substance on a 200-mile stretch of coastline in Dorset.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) were called to the south coast yesterday after the troubled guillemots, a member of the auk family, were discovered on Lyme Bay near Weymouth.
Environment Agency staff have taken samples of the affected water in an attempt to discover what the mysterious substance is.
A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Thames at Purley Village.Flooding is expected for the River Thames at Purley Village today. Immediate action required.
The river and flooding forecast is as follows: River levels are still rising steadily on the River Thames as a result of recent rainfall and levels remain sensitive to further rainfall forecast over the next few days.
One property has been reported as flooded and further flooding of low lying properties in Purley is expected over the next few days, particularly in the Riverside Gardens, Wintringham Way and Chestnut Grove area.
The areas under threat are Yalding, Allington and parts of Maidstone with Smarden and Headcorn are on alert too. Other areas include the upper River Medway from Forest Row to Penshurst, including Ashurst.
The Environment Agency is warning the public to remain vigilant about the risk of flooding across the South East as river and groundwater levels continue to rise across the region.
There are currently 25 flood warnings and 52 flood alerts in force across the South East.
Groundwater levels are high in parts of Hampshire, Berkshire and West Sussex, and rising in places, so any further rainfall will be carefully monitored. We are working closely with local partners to advise residents of any possible risk of flooding as a result of groundwater to make sure they are prepared.
There are flood warnings in place across the west of the Meridian Region, with a number in the Thames Valley.
Warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Thames at Marlow and Bisham, Staines and Egham, Sunbury, Goring and Streatley, Sandford and Radley and Abingdon.
There are also warnings in place at Henley, Remenham and Medmenham, and for the River Cherwell in the Oxford area, and for the River Loddon at Twyford, Charvil and Wargrave.
