I have a charming little river that runs through my garden, but it can turn into a dangerous torrent during storms. The erosion from water and the pesky Signal Crayfish burrowing into the banks means I need to reinforce some sections of the riverbank. About 18 years ago, I tried using Sweet Chestnut stakes and willow weaving, but they've mostly rotted away. I'm considering a more permanent solution that maintains a natural look. I came across a company called 'Liniar' that used to sell a recycled PVCU interlocking log pile system, but it's currently unavailable. So, I'm thinking of building my own with 110mm drainage pipes, which would connect like a tongue-and-groove setup and be covered with fake tree bark for an organic appearance. I'm concerned about the materials being safe and not leaching into the river. Has anyone here tried something similar with fake bark or drainage pipes? Or is there a better approach?
1 Answer
I haven't worked with drainage pipes, but have you looked into using non-woven earthbags? They can be a bit pricey, but you can get good deals from suppliers like Alibaba. I used them around my pond, and grass has actually started growing through them! They're commonly used for flood prevention and can be filled with soil or sand.
Thanks for the suggestion! I did consider pre-seeded soil bags, but they seemed too costly and require a lot of prep work to set up. Your earthbag idea sounds interesting, and I'll check out that link!