Anticipating the environmental impact of subsidence from coal mining enabled historic farmland to be returned to agricultural use, and low-lying land to be turned into a fishing lake at Whitewater, on the banks of the River Maun, in Sherwood Forest.

The scheme, which was carefully planned and processed by British Coal, has been successfully completed by the Coal Authority in partnership with Thoresby Estates, the Forestry Commission and the Nottinghamshire Scout Association who own the land, following close consultation with the Environment Agency and the Nottingham Wildlife Trust.

Records show that farming has taken place at Whitewater along the River Maun since before 1700. The low-lying fields, with their sandy soil, have been cultivated by generations of tenant farmers on the Thoresby Estate.

The foresight and planning which went into the Whitewater river regarding scheme has enabled land, which could have been lost to farming, to be restored agricultural use, and low-lying land which has a tendency to flood in winter, has been transformed into a man made fishing lake.

Talks at this planning stage also involved the National Rivers Authority (now the Environment Agency), the Forestry Commission, who owned the land on the other bank and the Nottinghamshire Scout Association which owns the Walesby Scout Camp.

Measures taken included dredging a section of river, building up areas affected by flooding and creating a man-made lake. Materials, extracted to create the lake, were used to build up the river banks and to raise the level of the surrounding land.

A programme of tree and shrub planting, reflecting the history of the area, featuring alders, willows, poplars and an extensive cross-section of forest trees on the opposite bank was specified by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and implemented under their supervision. New hedges were also planted where this was appropriate.

In addition, grasses and rushes were selected to provide a natural habitat for local wildlife, and there have since been reports of a big increase in the variety of birdlife visiting the area.

The lake, which covers about 20 acres, has been successfully stocked with trout, and is leased by Thoresby Estates to a local fishing club.

"The effect is that we have an extremely attractive visual amenity in a landscape in the landscape which is a credit to all those concerned", says Rowan McFerran. "The farmer can still farm the remained of the agricultural land, the anglers have a new fishing lake, and the landscape has gained a resource."