Environmental Management at Edge Hill 1

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 PhD BSc 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 m 2 (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 ~3000m 2 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 – 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 Getting the ‘bio’-issues into the design process

Environmental Management at Edge Hill 8 Design engineering Hard 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

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 / Weir Circulation/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 by feeding 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!