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)

Free training

CABA funded one day

workshop

SuDS training

LWC

April/May

andy.graham@wwt.org.uk