Two water retention ponds have been created at the Otterspool park site, namely at the Jericho lane entrance and in a lower section of the park. The two ponds will hold excess water during periods of heavy rainfall and wet weather, thus reducing local surface water flooding. Bird and bat boxes have also been installed and a viewing platform has been provided to accommodate small school groups, whereas peripheral aquatic vegetation and wildflower/woodland sowings will bring added biodiversity benefit.
Moreover, 14 trees have been planted as part of the advanced works for a different, larger city connectivity project. Together with the additional 15 that will be planted in autumn 2020, they will provide a sustainable urban drainage system on the main city highway. Excess surface water from the roadway will be diverted into these linked tree pits. The trees will work together to help ‘slow the flow’ of water by reducing and delaying flood waters entering the main drainage system. Moreover, the water exiting from the linked tree system will be cleaner and less polluted. Two large shade trees and two large cooling trees will also be planted as part of the URBAN GreenUP contribution to the initial phase of this connectivity scheme.