Yorkshire under water

Sheffield City Council’s approach to flood management in its urban parks.

Mary Bagley, director of parks and countryside

In June 2007 Sheffield suffered heavily from the flooding that swept across much of England and Wales. Climate change means that more heavy winter rainfall is expected.

However, Mary Bagley, director of parks and countryside, says Sheffield City Council is using these forecasts to bring investment into local parks and create much wider benefits.

Testing times for city parks

Sheffield is one of the greenest and most wooded cities in Europe. The city sees around 25 million visits every year to its huge variety of urban parks - many of which have Green Flag awards – and to its woodlands and surrounding countryside. But devastating floods in June 2007, caused by heavy rainfall that swelled the River Don to bursting point, left much of the city’s public space under water.

Manor Fields

Mary Bagley, Sheffield’s director of parks and countryside, says the floods were a real test for Manor Fields Park, one of the newest green spaces sitting in a key regeneration area of the city. “The park was designed so that floodwater winds through the park and empties into an events arena, then gradually releases back into the system,” she explains. “Not only does this allow us to store excess water, but the improved irrigation has led to an increase in biodiversity. Bellway Homes, which worked with us on the sustainable urban drainage system, pays the council to maintain it, providing a source of income for the parks service.”

This win-win approach is also demonstrated through the introduction of fishing ponds, which were designed to absorb water from heavy rainfall, but which are also proving popular with some of Sheffield’s young people.

“The success is also down to the local model of place management we are testing,” Ms Bagley says. “This ensures a co-ordinated approach amongst the various land managers and agencies operating in the area to achieve a quality, well-managed outdoor environment.” This is part of the transformational green estate project funded through neighbourhood renewal funding.

Strategic thinking

To make all this happen, Ms Bagley stresses the importance of clear policies and strategic direction in the local development framework and in particular the new open spaces strategy, due to be completed by the end of 2008. She also cites the advice on climate change on the DEFRA website as invaluable in training park staff.

“The support of members has been crucial,” says Ms Bagley. “We now have more money in the budget for the cleaning and maintenance of drainage in Sheffield’s parks which had been neglected in the past. Because of its success and experience, the parks service now not only advises other departments within the council but also acts as a consultant to other authorities.”

Partnerships

Working in partnership is clearly essential to the success of large-scale projects. ‘Moors for the Future’ is a partnership project to restore large parts of the internationally important Peak District moors. One of its aims is to preserve and increase peat bogs and wetlands so that water is retained rather than running off into the narrow river valleys.

Involving local people

Sheffield is also renewing its urban forest which covers 10 per cent of the city and comprises ancient woodland and Victorian street trees, many of which no longer take up as much water as they used to and are reaching the end of their life. To avoid the city losing its tree cover, an extensive programme of planting has now got underway with the help of community foresters engaging with local youth. Mary Bagley sees all such initiatives as an opportunity to involve the community and is hoping to extend this to schools.

The parks and countryside service is continually looking for opportunities which will benefit the community and which will also address climate change. The new mediterranean border in the botanical gardens demonstrates to the public how they could adapt their own gardens to climate change. There are plans to offer training and learning opportunities for staff and local people as well as long-term training and apprenticeships with funding from central government under the training and learning partnership.

Overall, Ms Bagley adopts a positive attitude to climate change, seeing opportunities where others might see only problems. Essentially she regards this as key to success in getting everyone on side, from members and officers to park staff and the wider community.

As the vision for green estate says: “To have an inspiring and valued urban estate, a place where all open space is transformed from a liability into a productive asset, which is managed in a way that protects and enhances the local heritage, demonstrates environmental excellence and delivers social justice, both now and for future generations.”