RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award 2007

The winner of the 2007 Living Wetlands Award is Sutcliffe Park – Quaggy River Flood Risk Management Scheme submitted by the Environment Agency.

Like many of the capital’s ancient waterways, the River Quaggy was increasingly channelled along man-made drains and through culverts beneath the ever-growing city. For years, a section of the river was lost in a tunnel under Sutcliffe Park in Greenwich, until a review of flood defences prompted a dramatic revival in its fortunes.  Increasing development in Lewisham and Greenwich had led to an ever-increasing risk of flooding and traditional remedies called for further widening and deepening of the artificial channels that took much of the river’s 17km length. 

Instead, the Environment Agency chose to bring the river back above ground, cutting a new channel for it through the park creating a multifunctional open space that would improve flood management and the quality of the park while also restoring the river through the site.   A culvert remained below ground to take excess water in times of flood and a new lake was created to take over when that too became full.  The park itself was lowered and shaped to create a floodplain where water could collect instead of rushing downstream to flood Lewisham town centre.

Careful design consideration of the park has created an impressive natural habitat. Over the last two years the park has blossomed into an important habitat, universally recognised by conservation groups such as National Trust, British Trust for Ornithology and members of Kingston University who have all commented on the surprising degree of biodiversity.

Sutcliffe Park has become a blueprint for ‘best practice’ in providing a multifunctional solution to a range of problems including flood risk, local lack of amenity, public safety/crime reduction and the provision of attractive natural habitat within a highly urbanised, ‘inner city’ location. 

As public use of the park has sharply increased among the wider community there has been a corresponding drop in petty crime, such as youth drinking and vandalism. The restored river and habitat is now enjoyed by local residents and the various user groups that have formed over the course of this project’s development continue to be strong advocates. 

Richard Copas from the Environment Agency, said: "Sutcliffe Park is an integral part of the Quaggy flood alleviation scheme. In times of flood, it can now hold the equivalent of 35 Olympic swimming pools of water, reducing the flood risk to 600 homes and businesses in Greenwich and Lewisham.

"It is fantastic how much the wetland environment has established itself in such a short space of time and some of the species it is now attracting to this part of inner London."

He added: "This award means a lot to us. As one of our flagship projects Sutcliffe Park is one off the most dramatic examples of how a flood alleviation scheme can not only reduce the risk of flooding, but also create significant recreational and environmental benefits. We are very proud of it, and thrilled that it has been recognised in this way."

Justin Taberham, Director of Policy at CIWEM said: “This is a fantastic example of an urban restoration project that has multiple benefits for biodiversity, flood defence, recreation and leisure. The judging panel was unanimous in its support for this project to be this year's winner. What was a fairly degraded site has become an urban oasis for wildlife.”

This development demonstrates that a flood alleviation scheme can be actively combined with the multifunctional dimensions of environmental enhancement, habitat creation, including improved recreational capacity and aesthetic improvement of a poor quality inner city green space.