1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The project aimed to create a new public open green space and opening up the River Alt. Issues that project aimed to address are (reference 1):
Poor river morphology;
High flood risk within extensive built-up areas and agricultural land;
Fly-tipping and debris removal causes an ongoing maintenance issue and a risk to the blockage and failure of culverted river sections;
Presence of invasive species including Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam;
A closed, man-made, culvert river section creating a poor environment for biodiversity;
Isolated green spaces and poor habitat connectivity;
The need for meaningful engagement with the community;
Derelict, underused, neglected and brownfield land blighting a deprived area of the city.
Poor river morphology;
High flood risk within extensive built-up areas and agricultural land;
Fly-tipping and debris removal causes an ongoing maintenance issue and a risk to the blockage and failure of culverted river sections;
Presence of invasive species including Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam;
A closed, man-made, culvert river section creating a poor environment for biodiversity;
Isolated green spaces and poor habitat connectivity;
The need for meaningful engagement with the community;
Derelict, underused, neglected and brownfield land blighting a deprived area of the city.
Quantitative targets
1. 870m long channel will be excavated with a 3.5 wide, low flow, channel, a series of floodplain benches or ledges. (Reference 1)
2. 3 ha of native grassland and wildflower meadow will be planted on low fertility substrates, used to enhance the species diversity. (Reference 1)
3. 4m wide path network (DDA compliant) from the site going close to the riverside within the upper floodplain (Reference 1)
4. 0.4 ha of willow scrub planting and semi natural grassland which will provide cover for nesting birds, small mammals and potential habitat for water voles and kingfisher known to be present locally along the River Alt (reference 1)
2. 3 ha of native grassland and wildflower meadow will be planted on low fertility substrates, used to enhance the species diversity. (Reference 1)
3. 4m wide path network (DDA compliant) from the site going close to the riverside within the upper floodplain (Reference 1)
4. 0.4 ha of willow scrub planting and semi natural grassland which will provide cover for nesting birds, small mammals and potential habitat for water voles and kingfisher known to be present locally along the River Alt (reference 1)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. increase in flood storage capacity within the river corridor (Reference 1)
2. A small area of Japanese Knot weed will be eradicated and monitored prior to the excavation of the new river channel. (Reference 1)
3. Himalayan Balsam located upstream will be monitored and managed (Reference 1)
4. Hydrological performance of the new water course (Reference 3)
2. A small area of Japanese Knot weed will be eradicated and monitored prior to the excavation of the new river channel. (Reference 1)
3. Himalayan Balsam located upstream will be monitored and managed (Reference 1)
4. Hydrological performance of the new water course (Reference 3)
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
1- Channel excavation was done to help minimize erosion and enhance habitat diversity, significant increase in flood storage capacity within the river corridor and reduction of flood risk elsewhere in the catchment. (Reference 1)
2 . A mosaic of habitats was created including extensive planting of the riparian and marginal wetland (Reference 1)
3. Invasive weed species were managed (Reference 1)
4. Access for easy maintenance of the watercourse, including vegetation was provided (Reference 1)
5. Engagement activities like public consultation, 'walk and talk' sessions and conservation volunteering and training among many others were conducted (Reference 1)
2 . A mosaic of habitats was created including extensive planting of the riparian and marginal wetland (Reference 1)
3. Invasive weed species were managed (Reference 1)
4. Access for easy maintenance of the watercourse, including vegetation was provided (Reference 1)
5. Engagement activities like public consultation, 'walk and talk' sessions and conservation volunteering and training among many others were conducted (Reference 1)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
A section of heavily engineered river, to be de-culverted for realigning the River Alt between East Lancashire Road and Parkstile Lane, into a new meandering, naturalistic, open river channel with newly vegetated river banks. (ref 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
