4th October 2024
Rewiggling rivers – allowing them to follow their natural winding tendency – and allowing them to spill out into their local floodplain, has the same affect as a rain garden but in a larger scale. This Rewilding benefits biodiversity and reduces unpredictable flood risks. The following is from Thames21:-
“ Reintroducing a more natural system that creates space for increased water flow means less flooding and reduces the pressure on London’s struggling drainage system. Improvements like installing reed beds not only create new habitats for wildlife, but help to trap pollutants before they flow downstream.
“Removing barriers and concrete channels, and creating beautiful new wetland areas brings rivers back into the heart of communities; makes them more biodiverse and improves the wellbeing levels of people who visit them. Those living near the river restoration projects across London report a better community spirit as the amount of shared space, and opportunities for volunteering and community action, have increased.”(1)
We should be encouraged that so much work is happening and so be encouraged to press for and support the so much more that could be done!
(1) https://www.thames21.org.uk/joinacampaign/londonriversweek2023/rewilding-londons-rivers/
The Green Tau 