Environmental Management at Edge Hill: A Multifunctional Wetland for Sustainable Development

1. Environmental Management at Edge Hill

2. A quick survey! • “how many of you are environmental managers?” • “how many of you are consulted, feed into and help shape the design process for new development?” Environmental Management at Edge Hill

3. A Multifunctional Wetland for Biodiversity and Sustainable Drainage Dr John Hindley PhDBSc Hons CBiol MIBiol Environmental Manager Environmental Management at Edge Hill

4. Main Aim – “to give an example of how to put biodiversity issues on the table & get success in large development projects”(supported with pictures) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

5. Background • Proposed Western Campus development comprising future educational build of 13,000 m2 (beginning 2003) • more hard surface - Current surface water quotas did not allow for increased runoff • Solution – SUDS system (retention system – balancing lake) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

6. SUDS Specification • Generic specification • Creation of a 3.5million litre lake ~3000m2 • Capacity - ability to store SW runoff from back to back 100yr storm events • To provide runoff provision for all proposed Western Campus buildings and feature spaces (Piazza) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

7. Getting the ‘bio’-issues into thedesign process • 2002 – appointed as in-house Environmental Consultant to review design • Main existing design features - Hard vertical edges (concrete/wooden stake), some sloping sides with epoxy mortared cobbles, artificial aeration (diffusers) • In fact pretty featureless! Very limited opportunity for diverse ecology to establish and would become unsustainable in time Environmental Management at Edge Hill

8. Design engineeringHard to soft • My main recommendations: • Reduce vertical edges in favour of soft batter and rock rip-rap in local stone • Diversify habitat dynamics – Still / moving water • Circulation - Weir, Stream and Reedbed all had specific functions of circulating and oxygenating the water as well as being attractive features • Increased marginal and peripheral planting – but robust enough for ducks!! • Reuse of excavated spoil in mounds for tree/shrub planting • Sustainability - ensure lake design was sustainable and with maximum ecological social benefit. • These changes showed a £150k budget saving Environmental Management at Edge Hill

9. Environmental Management at Edge Hill

10. as it was April 2002 Environmental Management at Edge Hill

11. Lake layout Reedbed Bridge/stream Weir Environmental Management at Edge Hill

12. Reedbed (removes excess nutrients) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

13. Bridge/Rocky stream (Fast flowing water) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

14. Formal Pool / WeirCirculation/aeration (2 features 1 pump!) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

15. The lake - a place of relaxation & diversity Environmental Management at Edge Hill

16. The Piazza- Quality open space Environmental Management at Edge Hill

17. Animal diversity • Huge noticeable biodiversity gains • Breeding populations of damselflies and dragonflies • Birds including moorhens and ducks! • Use of the water surface byfeeding birds (emergent insects etc) Environmental Management at Edge Hill

18. Mound planting – Reuse of spoil Environmental Management at Edge Hill

19. Key Points – Making it work • Best practice - The university Environmental Manager should always be consulted during the development of the campus. • Build process = sprinter • Operation of development = long distance runner • In house resource will often give a more objective view on a proposal rather than an external clinical view (but they can work together) • Developments will always have external landscaping issues, which should be seized as opportunities. • Soft engineering solutions such as mounds and batters will enable more diverse planting options to be used and encourage increased wildlife value. • Wildlife solutions are often cheaper and can fit within a formal theme (this scheme saved £150k) • Increased interest from staff and students – marketing is important • Promotes the cross over between Service and Academic areas (student and staff research) • Don’t forget it is your campus! Environmental Management at Edge Hill

20. Thanks for listening! Environmental Management at Edge Hill