Increasing flood storage capacity at Aylestone Meadows
Aylestone Meadows
At 8.8 hectares, Aylestone Meadows is Leicester's largest local nature reserve. It is dissected by the River Soar (the main watercourse through Leicester) and the smaller, River Biam. Just a couple of miles south-west of the city centre, Aylestone Meadows, with its criss-cross of foot and cycle paths, supports a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
The work to Aylestone Meadows formed part of the work completed under the River Soar and Grand Union Canal Partnership. This was funded through the Local Growth Fund which seeks to deliver accessand environmental improvements along the river and canal corridor. The work was completed inaccordance with a set of drawings and to a written pre-contract plan and BoQ.
The works included the excavation of four areas in close proximity to form ephemeral wetland scrapes. These scrapes increased floodplain storage capacity upstream of the city, while enhancing the habitat for wildlife.
The spoil removed to create the scrapes was used to regrade part of the meadow in carefully selected areas, creating habitat mounds (hibernacles). These were seeded using a wildflower wetland mix to provide further biodiversity enhancements. Vegetation management was also undertaken to existing trees.
Hedgerows were planted to help manage future public access, with informal egress routes added across the meadow.
Ridge and furrow grasslands were protected using trackway matting which was essential due to inclement weather and flood conditions – a result of the River Soar overtopping its banks into the site area throughout the contract period.
The works were completed to the agreed timescale with complete client satisfaction, and with no detrimental residual impact on the ecology.
