The slopes of the embankment have been set as 1 vertical 7 horizontal on both the inner and outer faces to maximise the stability and enable the embankment to be less obvious (see Figure below).

It is proposed to plant semi-natural, species-rich grassland on the outer sunny south-facing slope of the embankment, which will encourage a variety of invertebrates and birds to the site. This could be lightly grazed by sheep, provided sheep tracks are prevented. However, the outer face will still need to be mown annually if the grass is too long to allow proper inspection of the integrity of the embankment.

The inside face of the embankment (i.e. side facing the water), has to be protected against erosion and damage from wave action. Protection is needed over the whole range of expected water levels and will extend up to the crest of the embankment. The type of protection will be influenced by locally available materials. Recycled aggregates or locally sourced gravel could be used.