New Glade and Swale by Queen’s Ride

We are creating a new 1,500m² woodland glade along Queen’s Ride to boost both biodiversity and flood resilience. The glade will open up space within the woodland without affecting mature trees, encouraging diverse ground cover and supporting a wider range of species.

A gently sloping swale will also be formed within the glade to capture excess surface water. In heavy rainfall, this feature will help reduce flooding on Queen’s Ride by holding and soaking away water into the gravel below, while also storing moisture for the woodland during dry periods. By combining habitat creation with natural drainage, the project will benefit both people and nature.

This project is part of our work as a partner in the Community BlueScapes project. Working in partnership with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRuT) and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), we have been awarded £6m from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to increase flood resilience in the Beverley Brook’s catchment in Richmond and areas of Wandsworth.

The Community BlueScapes project runs over 6 years and is part of the £200m Flood and Coastal Resilience and Innovation Programme, managed by the Environment Agency (EA). We were one of 25 programmes selected to drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate, across the country.

New Glade and Swale by Queen’s Ride

We are creating a new 1,500m² woodland glade along Queen’s Ride to boost both biodiversity and flood resilience. The glade will open up space within the woodland without affecting mature trees, encouraging diverse ground cover and supporting a wider range of species.

A gently sloping swale will also be formed within the glade to capture excess surface water. In heavy rainfall, this feature will help reduce flooding on Queen’s Ride by holding and soaking away water into the gravel below, while also storing moisture for the woodland during dry periods. By combining habitat creation with natural drainage, the project will benefit both people and nature.

This project is part of our work as a partner in the Community BlueScapes project. Working in partnership with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRuT) and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), we have been awarded £6m from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to increase flood resilience in the Beverley Brook’s catchment in Richmond and areas of Wandsworth.

The Community BlueScapes project runs over 6 years and is part of the £200m Flood and Coastal Resilience and Innovation Programme, managed by the Environment Agency (EA). We were one of 25 programmes selected to drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate, across the country.

Community BlueScapes

The Beverley Brook Restoration Project