1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
“The project’s aim is to restore the brook’s natural features and enhance the surrounding habitat.” (Ref. 1) It is part of a larger effort to improve water quality to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (Ref. 3).
The River Restoration on Guphill Brook's project goals include:
“1. Enhance the Guphill Brook and associated floodplain through restoring the natural geomorphological features. 2. Create onsite backwaters and associated wetland features. 3. Form a series of new wetlands to filter water flowing into and through the Guphill Brook, improving water quality. 4. Widen buffer strips, create wildflower habitat. 5. Increase the shading of part of the watercourse to reduce water temperatures. 6. Provide habitat to facilitate a water vole recolonisation or potential re-introduction.” (Ref. 2)
The River Restoration on Guphill Brook's project goals include:
“1. Enhance the Guphill Brook and associated floodplain through restoring the natural geomorphological features. 2. Create onsite backwaters and associated wetland features. 3. Form a series of new wetlands to filter water flowing into and through the Guphill Brook, improving water quality. 4. Widen buffer strips, create wildflower habitat. 5. Increase the shading of part of the watercourse to reduce water temperatures. 6. Provide habitat to facilitate a water vole recolonisation or potential re-introduction.” (Ref. 2)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
urban and agricultural diffuse pollution, biological and ecological quality, hydro geo-morphological quality (Ref. 2)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
“Re- profiled banks of the brook to restore a more natural flow; Increased area of fish spawning gravels and in-stream vegetation; 2 backwater areas totalling 100m²; Enhance 280m² buffer strip grassland.” (Ref. 2)
“remove areas of Himalayan balsam and to create valuable wildflower-rich meadows alongside the river. These will be sown and planted by local volunteers and will provide not only a source of food for water voles and invertebrates such as bees and butterflies but will act as a natural highway helping wildlife move between isolated habitats.” (Ref. 1)
“Creation of pools connected to the river will give fish and invertebrates a place to rest and shelter but also importantly, have been designed to provide refuge and food for our most charming but sadly also most declined water dweller, the water vole.” (Ref. 1)
Increase shading of part of watercourse to reduce water temperatures. (ref 2)
“remove areas of Himalayan balsam and to create valuable wildflower-rich meadows alongside the river. These will be sown and planted by local volunteers and will provide not only a source of food for water voles and invertebrates such as bees and butterflies but will act as a natural highway helping wildlife move between isolated habitats.” (Ref. 1)
“Creation of pools connected to the river will give fish and invertebrates a place to rest and shelter but also importantly, have been designed to provide refuge and food for our most charming but sadly also most declined water dweller, the water vole.” (Ref. 1)
Increase shading of part of watercourse to reduce water temperatures. (ref 2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The project’s aim is to restore the brook’s natural features through e.g. creation of pools connected to the river. (Ref. 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Coventry Water Vole Project. (Ref. 5)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Future projects: 'Woody debris' (a proposal from Wild Trout Trust, to enhance fish habitat and examples include: Lakeview Park, River Sherbourne riverine restoration, Charterhouse, Riverine enhancement. (Ref. 2)
6. Evaluation and learning
7. Sources
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
"£1,250 Coventry City Council staff time input 5 days; £5,900 volunteer hour input; £600 Staff time input additional discussions with Middlemarch Environmental 2 days; £1,500 Management time input 5 days" (Ref. 2)
