Sustainable drainage systems
for people and wildlife - from principles to practice –
Andy Graham
What do SuDS do?
Manage volume
Improve stream quality
Space for wildlife
Amenity
Mimic nature
*can be quite dry
conventional v. SuDS
• Manage runoff volumes and flow rates from hard surfaces
• Protect/enhance water quality
• Support flow regimes (and aquifers)
• Support biodiversity• Address local needs• evapo-transpiration from
vegetation and surface water (UHI effect)
• Create better places
SuDS are for life...
Well-beingEducationalClimate regulationWater regulationErosion controlPollinationHabitat/genetic resource
(some) drivers and tools for change
Flood & Water Management Act (2010) – new build only
WFD
GI (& LBAPS)
LNPs/LEPs ?
NEP – Water Companies plans
Community Development Trusts
national standards anyone?
• Early consideration• multifunctional• follow management
train• Allow infiltration• manage close to
source possible• foul sewer
connection not permitted.
• Adoption – likely to be LAs• Already forging ahead
despite govt inertia• Current best practice
exceeds low bar to be set by government
• Voluntary SuDS?
Rural SuDS
Prevent soil lossReduce diffuse pollutionWetland creationFlood attenuationSediment trapsSwales (check dams)On line wetlands (N removal)Detention/retention basinsWet woodland/scrub
WWT guidance on Farm wetlandsEA guidance - RSuDS
principles
It’s a resource
Manage water at
source/surface
Store in wildlife habitats
Controlled discharge
Generate clean water
principles
Multi-disciplinary
approach
Ecological design
Not one size fits all
Early engagement with
people
more for less
SuDS management train
susdrain.org
Local engagement
Community design & management
WWT/RSPB guidance
To guide planners anddevelopersSignpost to informationTo show examplesTo inspirePush wildlife and people upthe agenda
New Southgate Rail
Suds for Schools
1. Coppetts Wood Primary2. Friern Barnet Secondary3. Hazelbury Juniors4. Hollickwood Primary5. Holly Park Primary6. Martin Primary7. Oakthorpe Primary8. Queen Elizabeth Girls
School9. Susi Earnshaw Theatre
School10.West Lea School
Key objectives
• WFD (EA)• Engagement (Thames
Water)
Flood management Re-connection with
nature (via their brook)
Well-being Wildlife
Hollickwood Primary School
•What a wonderful day we had! It exceeded all our expectations. Thank you so much for everything. Please pass on our thanks to all your colleagues who made it such a successful event. •Mr Westmore, Acting Head Teacher
•SuDS are now well and truly in the Hollickwood consciousness, and also of all our community guests, (I see that all the parents' Facebook pages are going crazy tonight with admiring comments about our SuDS!). •Linden Groves, Parent & Gardening Committee
“Love the garden. The children sit at the benches by the garden
every break and lunchtime”Susi Earnshaw
Key challenges
Retro-fit programme
Inertia and cultural change
(lack of) awareness of wetland values
Adoption & maintenanceSafety
Demonstration sites
Some conclusions
Take the wetlands to the people
Community management makes SuDS sustainable
SuDS – integral to solving manyissues/agendas (inc diffusepollution)