2024-25 Tales from an East Anglian Riverbank - Portfolio - Page 9
BFER CASE STUDY: TURF LOCK FISH PASS
The River Lark is one of just 200 chalk
streams worldwide – rare, aquifer-fed rivers
rich in minerals and wildlife. Historic locks
and mills have disrupted its now, blocked 昀椀sh
migra琀椀on, and reduced biodiversity.
CHALK TO SEA
Built in the early 18th century to extend
naviga琀椀on to Bury St Edmunds, Turf Lock is
one of many structures that altered the Lark.
Barges once carried coal, 琀椀mber, bricks, and
food for over 150 years, but these changes
lev las琀椀ng impacts that s琀椀ll hinder recovery
today.
Ecological importance
• Rare chalk stream
• Man-made barriers
disrupt natural now
• Aims to restore river
health
Various stages of construc琀椀on
Historical context
• Constructed in 18th
century as part of goods
naviga琀椀on system
• Enhance natural habitats
while preserving
historical structures
The new Turf Lock 昀椀sh pass – a 8rock ramp9 –
restores now and reconnects habitats. Stone
was used to smooth the gradient, while
boulders create turbulence and res琀椀ng spots,
enabling many species to migrate again.
Delivered by the Environment Agency
through the Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers
Partnership, designed by Fishtek, and built by
Breheny Civil Engineering,
the project was
completed in April 2025.
Design & func}onality
• 8Rock ramp9 designed to
accommodate various
昀椀sh species and nows
Click on the 昀椀lm to watch
the 琀椀melapse video of
the installa琀椀on.
Completed 昀椀sh pass with water
nowing again through the channel
Target 昀椀sh species
• Chub, Sea Trout, Brown
Trout, and cri琀椀cally
endangered eel
• Fish pass crucial for
migratory ins琀椀ncts
-9-
