1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Sunderland
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Elba Park
Short description of the intervention
The NBS includes the establishment of a new country park, Elba Park, with the goal to create a haven for wildlife and a space for people to enjoy nature. 52 hectares of former coal-mined were transformed under the management of Groundwork NE (Ref 2 & 3).
Address

22 Birkdale Dr
Houghton le Spring
Sunderland
DH4 6GR
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-1.499446 54.8562)
POINT (-1.502286 54.8515)
POINT (-1.507655 54.852438)
POINT (-1.506797 54.855124)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google maps. Available at https://www.google.com/maps/search/elba+park/@54.8537901,-1.5059825,866m/data=!3m1!1e3. Accessed on 10th November, 2020.
Total area
530000.00m²
NBS area
225000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Industrial
Previous derelict area
Website of the intervention
http://thelandtrust.org.uk/space/elba-park/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2000
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2000
End date of the intervention
2010
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. To convert a degraded area into a green space and a thriving community place.
2. To deliver social, environmental, health, educational and economic benefits.
3. To create an attractive country park with blossoming flora and fauna and where people can enjoy. (Ref 2 and 3)
Quantitative targets
Unknown.
Monitoring indicators defined
Hectares of former coal-mined transformed, cubic metres of soil removed, trees planted and metres of footpath and multiuser routes created, birds species recorded, number of volunteer days, number of school visits, number of people attending training events, number of people attending health activities and number of people participating in walking events. (Ref 2 and 3)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Implementation activities
The work on the site took place in phases. Phase 1 was the initial preparatory phase and involved gaining planning consents and budgets. Phase 2 required detailed ground investigation, testing and collation of data. With the data produced from the investigation works, 3D contamination mapping was compiled, cleanup targets were derived and detailed design of the remediation process was carried out. These were all presented to, and agreed with, the regulatory authorities. Phase 3 of the works entailed the creation of a housing platform and sections of road embankment. Phase 4 of the project entailed the final profiling and landscaping of the country park area, completion of soil remediation, the construction of the final section of road embankment and treatment of mine shafts. This phase also saw the permeable reactive barrier installed to protect the Herrington Burn from residual groundwater contamination. The park was officially opened on 1st October 2010, with the unveiling of a mining memorial artwork to commemorate the area’s coal mining heritage, by ex-Sunderland and Newcastle United footballer Paul Bracewell. (Ref 4)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
77,000
Amenities offered by the NBS
Educational or biodiversity trails
Viewing and outlook points
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Please specify "other cultural service"
Educational services
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The Homes and Communities Agency, with funding from the National Coalfields Programme, reclaimed the site by transforming it into a park. The land is owned by the Land Trust and managed by the national federation Grouwdwork, but key collaborators are the regional Groundwork NE and the Sunderland City Council (Ref 2).
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Unknown
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project is the result of a collaboration among which are a number of national organisations and bodies (Ref 3).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The intervention was funded by the National Coalfield Programme (Ref 2).
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The endowment costs were 2.5 million British pounds (Ref 4).
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green densification model
Vacant space model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Green infrastructure generation (Ref 3).
Please specify social innovation
Educational innovation: Workshops and events for local citizens (Ref 1).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown.
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown.
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved waste management
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Restoration of derelict areas
Please specify other economic impact
Real estate development
Description of environmental benefits
1. The project has improved the biodiversity of the area significantly by planting 77,000 trees.
2. The park is a haven for wildlife.
3. The newly created green space has improved the soil fertility and restored the once degraded ecosystem.
4. The park helps in removing the old mining landscape and converted it into a green and natural landscape.
5. The project removed almost two million cubic metres of soil and approximately 500,000 tons of polluted waste.
6. 100 birds species recorded between 2010 and 2012. (Ref 2 and 4)
Economic impacts
Other
Description of economic benefits
The project includes more than 300 home creation. These are designed as energy-efficient homes. (Ref 2 and 3)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. An extensive network of footpaths comprise a mixture of tarmac and non-bonded crushed material. Most are in excess of 1.5 metres wide improves the accessibility.
2. It provides a good place for walking, cycling, horse riding and wildlife watching. The place promotes physical activity and has reported improving the visitors' mental health and famous choice for a short day vacation.
3. The park has an active Friends group and volunteers.
4. It is an important resource for schools and education, offering a multitude of regular events, bringing the community together. [42 volunteer days, 12 school visits, 100 people attending training events, 500 people attending health activities and 140 people participating in walking events]. (Ref 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Hectares of former coal-mined were transformed under management of Groundwork NE, cubic metres of soil was removed, numbers of trees planted and metres of footpath and multiuser routes created, numbers of birds species recorded, numbers of volunteer days, numbers of school visits, numbers of people attending training events, numbers of people attending health activities and numbers of people participating in walking events (Ref 3).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of November, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
http://tcpa.brix.fatbeehive.com/data/files/Euan_Hall_presentation.pdf
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown.
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Interview
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Yes
Please specify
The Land Trust surveyed visitors to 12 of its parks in order to calculate the social values of the sites. Included in the survey was Elba Park, and the extremely positive results have demonstrated just how much the site means to the people who use it. (96%) felt that the park makes the area a better and more desirable place to live. Further to this, the majority of respondents also felt that the park helps wildlife and the environment (92% of 52 respondents) and helps to encourage people to keep fit and healthy (92% of 50 respondents).

A “Friends of Elba Park” group has been assembled and is growing to ensure that the park continues these successes in the future. (Ref 1)
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref 1: The Land Trust. (n.d.). Elba park.
Ref 2: Groundwork. (n.d.). Elba park.
Ref 3: The land Trust. (n.d.). The Land Trust
List of references
Ref 1: The Land Trust. (n.d.). Elba park. Retrieved from http://thelandtrust.org.uk/space/elba-park/ on 10th November, 2020.
Ref 2: Groundwork. (n.d.). Elba park. Retrieved from https://www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/elba-park/ on 10th November, 2020.
Ref 3: The land Trust. (n.d.). The Land Trust. Retrieved from
https://thelandtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Elba-Park.pdf on 10th November, 2020.
Ref 4: All Things Bournmoor (n.d.) Elba Park. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/allthingsbournmoor/elba-park on 10th November, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
4/policy drivers & enablers: The project is the result of a collaboration among which are a number of national organisations and bodies. Despite this fact, no reference is made to a national or regional strategy that this project was a response to.
Public Images
Elba Park (2012)
Elba Park (2012)
Photographer: Andrea Baxter, retrieved 08/15/2018 from Rebekah Vickers
Elba Park (2012)
Elba Park (2012)
Photographer: Michael Parr, retrieved 08/15/2018 from Rebekah Vickers
Elba Park (2012)
Elba Park (2012)
Photographer: Ian Mcclelland, retrieved 08/15/2018 from Rebekah Vickers