Editing River Avon, Warwickshire (section)

==Commercial traffic==
[[File:Stratford boat cruise 7975.jpg|thumb|The river is also used by [[tour boat]]s; Statford-upon-Avon]]
Commercial traffic returned to the Avon in May 2010, as part of a scheme to build flood defences at the town of Pershore, following flooding in 2007, which caused damage to a number of properties. Clay banks were constructed, with most of the material coming from [[Birlingham]], further downstream. Some 15,000 tonnes of clay was excavated and transported by barge to the construction works. At Birlingham, the excavation was managed to create a wetland reserve for wildlife, with {{convert|32|acre|ha|0}} of wet grassland and {{convert|5|acre|ha|0}} of open water and [[reed bed]]s. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust worked with the landowner to create the reserve, which is called the John Bennett Reserve. The use of barges to transport the clay was estimated to save 3,000 [[Truck|lorry]] trips between the two sites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/119600.aspx|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140605090108/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID37.aspx |archive-date=5 June 2014 |publisher=Environment Agency |title=Pershore Flood Alleviation Scheme sod cutting ceremony |access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref>