Case study:Ladywell Fields (QUERCUS)

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Location: 51° 27' 16.31" N, 0° 1' 7.68" W

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://www.quercus-project.eu/
Themes	Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Monitoring, Social benefits, Urban
Country	England
Main contact forename	Paul
Main contact surname	Chapman
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	London Borough of Lewisham
Contact organisation web site	http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/
Partner organisations	EU's LIFE Environment Fund, London Borough of Lewisham, Environment Agency, Building Design Partnership, Fergal Contracting
Parent multi-site project	Case_study:QUERCUS Ravensbourne
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

Ladywell Fields after restoration

Project summary

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Ladywell Fields has been transformed from its previously characterless and formless landscape into a diverse, popular and accessible public open space. The creation of a new gravel-bedded river channel through the centre of the park has also brought about significant improvements in biodiversity. Ladywell Fields won the best-new-public-space category at London Planning Awards for its rejuvenated park in Lewisham.

• Aims - natural flood risk management, land use change

• Other aims and benefits - improving ecology, improving hydromorphological conditions

• Rainfall (mm) 557

• Altitude (m) 22
• Type - Implemented Working with Natural Processes measures

• Measures Flood storage areas, Reconnect rivers to floodplain

• Construction - Concrete removed, soil and stone banks instead and wooden pontoons for viewing

• Size (km2) 0.21

• Date implemented - 2007

• Maintenance checks - channel erosion, sedimentation in ponds, vegetation control

• Investment (£) 1,404,500

• Additional storage (m3) 15,000

• Elevation of defences (m) < 2

• Risk reduction - impacts modelled

Monitoring surveys and results

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• Surveys indicating that the public’s perception of the park in terms of recreational value and safety has improved. Now 78% visitors feel safe (in comparison to 44% before the restoration), and use of the park has increased over 2 and a half times.

• survey results indicating a near 100% increase in the number of species present in the park (in particular fishing birds), which are benefiting from the greater range of habitat types now present following the restoration works.

Lessons learnt

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Performance/Ecosystem benefits - large increase in flood water storage to maintain 1 in 100 year protection, range of environmental benefits including backwaters, riffles and pools

Image gallery

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Ladywell Fields fully restored, August 2008

Created backwater, August 2008

Created pond, August 2008

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district Thames River basin London Subcatchment River name Ravensbourne (Catford to Deptford) Area category 100 - 1000 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category 100 - 200 m Maximum altitude (m) 132132 m <br />0.132 km <br />13,200 cm <br /> Dominant geology Calcareous Ecoregion Great Britain Dominant land cover Urban Waterbody ID GB106039023270 Other case studies in this subcatchment: Broadway Fields/ Seagers Distillary, Catford Greyhound Stadium, Cornmill Gardens (QUERCUS), Ladywell Fields Phase 2, Ladywell Fields to Cornmill Gardens, Ladywell Fields toeboarding, Lewisham College weir, Linear Park, QUERCUS Ravensbourne, Ravensbourne Tescos... further results Site Edit site Name Ladywell fields WFD water body codes GB106039023270 WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Ravensbourne (Catford to Deptford) Pre-project morphology Single channel, Straight, Pool-riffle Reference morphology Sinuous, Pool-riffle Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body Yes National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present No Invasive species present No Species of interest Dominant hydrology Quick run-off Dominant substrate Bedrock, Gravel, Silt River corridor land use Urban Average bankfull channel width category 2 - 5 m Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category 0.5 - 2 m Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) 0.430.43 m³/s <br />430 l/s <br /> Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) 200 m0.2 km <br />20,000 cm <br /> Project started 2006/06/01 Works started Works completed 2008/09/01 Project completed Total cost category Total cost (k€) 500 k€500,000 € <br /> Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources London Borough of Lewisham, Chester City Council Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Supplementary funding information Part-funded through the EU’s LIFE Environment Programme Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Riparian development Hydromorphology Width & depth variation, Structure & condition of riparian zones Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Habitat enhancement, crime prevention Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Planting, Depth variation, Removal of fencing Floodplain / River corridor Creation of backwaters, Creation of terraces, New footpaths Planform / Channel pattern Creation of meanders Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) cafe built and entrances to the park improved Other Consultation Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Width & depth variation Yes Yes Improvement Structure & condition of riparian zones Yes Yes Improvement Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Fish Yes Yes No No No Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Public Accessibility Yes Yes Yes Improvement Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents post project report RRC summary report architectural information evaluation report Submission for Living Wetlands Awards Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://www.therrc.co.uk/sites/default/files/projects/p1514.pdf RRC site description http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/aboutthecouncil/eu-funding/Pages/QUERCUS.aspx Lewisham Council's link http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/aboutthecouncil/eu-funding/Documents/QUERCUSProjectReportMarch2009.pdf Quercus project final report http://naturalprocesses.jbahosting.com/#12/51.4790/-0.0167 JBA case studies of natural flood risk management Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information