'Flagship' park tackles climate change
27 July 2010
A park designed to take into account the effects of climate change is being created in east London as a national demonstration site for local councils across the country struggling with the twin challenges of flooding and drought.
The £3.6 million project will transform Mayesbrook Park, in Barking, over the next five years into a showpiece of flood management, designed to cushion the impact of extreme weather events while creating diverse habitats for wildlife.
The brook which runs through the 45 ha (110-acre) park, previously described as 'one of our most damaged urban rivers', is being restored from an artificial concrete flood channel back to its natural course. Alongside it a one-hectare floodplain is being opened up to absorb and store floodwater, criss-crossed by boardwalks so visitors can enjoy wetland wildlife.
At the same time five hectares of new woodland is being planted to create shade and wildlife habitats and a demonstration climate change garden of drought-resistant plants is planned to show what can be planted to withstand periods of dry weather.
It's hoped local authorities across the country will draw inspiration from the project, funded and run by a partnership of organisations including the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Thames Rivers Restoration Trust.
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