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A quick survey!

“how many of you are environmental managers?”

“how many of you are consulted, feed into and help shape the design process for new development?”

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A Multifunctional Wetland for

Biodiversity and Sustainable Drainage

Dr John Hindley PhD BSc Hons CBiol MIBiol

Environmental Manager

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Main Aim – “to give an example of how to put biodiversity issues on the table & get success in large development projects”

(supported with pictures)

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Background

Proposed Western Campus development comprising future educational build of 13,000 m2

(beginning 2003) more hard surface - Current surface

water quotas did not allow for increased runoff

Solution – SUDS system (retention system – balancing lake)

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SUDS Specification

Generic specification Creation of a 3.5million litre lake

~3000m2

Capacity - ability to store SW runoff from back to back 100yr storm events

To provide runoff provision for all proposed Western Campus buildings and feature spaces (Piazza)

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2002 – appointed as in-house Environmental Consultant to review design

Main existing design features - Hard vertical edges (concrete/wooden stake), some sloping sides with epoxy mortared cobbles, artificial aeration (diffusers)

In fact pretty featureless! Very limited opportunity for diverse ecology to establish and would become unsustainable in time

Getting the ‘bio’-issues into the

design process

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Design engineeringHard to soft

My main recommendations: Reduce vertical edges in favour of soft batter and

rock rip-rap in local stone Diversify habitat dynamics – Still / moving water Circulation - Weir, Stream and Reedbed all had

specific functions of circulating and oxygenating the water as well as being attractive features

Increased marginal and peripheral planting – but robust enough for ducks!!

Reuse of excavated spoil in mounds for tree/shrub planting

Sustainability - ensure lake design was sustainable and with maximum ecological social benefit.

These changes showed a £150k budget saving

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as it was April 2002

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Lake layout

Reedbed Bridge/streamWeir

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Reedbed (removes excess nutrients)

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Bridge/Rocky stream (Fast flowing

water)

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Formal Pool / WeirCirculation/aeration (2 features 1 pump!)

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The lake - a place of relaxation & diversity

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The Piazza- Quality open space

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Animal diversity

Huge noticeable biodiversity gains Breeding populations of damselflies and

dragonflies Birds including moorhens and ducks! Use of the water surface by

feeding birds (emergentinsects etc)

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Mound planting – Reuse of spoil

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Key Points – Making it work Best practice - The university Environmental Manager should

always be consulted during the development of the campus. Build process = sprinter Operation of development = long distance runner In house resource will often give a more objective view on a

proposal rather than an external clinical view (but they can work together)

Developments will always have external landscaping issues, which should be seized as opportunities.

Soft engineering solutions such as mounds and batters will enable more diverse planting options to be used and encourage increased wildlife value.

Wildlife solutions are often cheaper and can fit within a formal theme (this scheme saved £150k)

Increased interest from staff and students – marketing is important

Promotes the cross over between Service and Academic areas (student and staff research)

Don’t forget it is your campus!

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Thanks for listening!