As the world celebrates Earth Day, a former Suffolk wetland at Cattawade has been restored back to its original state in the first project of its kind in the East of England, to increase biodiversity and improve climate resilience along the railway.

The almost seven hectare site was drained nearly 180 years ago to protect the railway embankment of the London to Norwich line, and in the process destroyed a wetland habitat and the ecosystem that was important for native birds.

The wetland restoration carried out by QTS on behalf of Network Rail, utilised ‘nature-based’ solutions including placing almost 4000 tonnes of granite and other erosion-resistant rocks along the embankment to create a protective ‘rock armour’ wall. Channels were dug across the site to enable water to flow across the area, and a series of two-metre ‘mounds’ were created just above the waterline so wetland birds will be able to nest and lay their eggs.