Porter Park •
Restoring the life of the Porter Brook • Urban ecology is fast becoming a highly relevant topic, as there is an increasing need for more green space within our cities. Green space provides people with a place for recreation, relaxation and has been seen to improve quality of life. Whilst providing a human benefit, these spaces can also contribute to carbon reduction, flood mitigation and a variety of habitats. These habitats can provide for common urban wildlife, but also rarer species that have been declining due to the development of buildings on previous habitat space. Along with the benefits the river can bring, the site in question has a great potential to provide habitats, contribute to flood mitigation, and provide a succesful public space for Sheffield to enjoy.
Conception
Inspiration was drawn from a number of sources encompassing water, natural forms and natural processes. In particular, the process a river has from start to finish as it cuts its way through high mountains onto lower land and then finally spreading wide and vast over coastal areas before entering the sea. Much of the planting inspiration is from natural wetland complexes, as well as the dyamacy wetlands provide come high water levels. A key aspect is the process of succession, inspired by natural successive vegetation systems, and river systems as they come together. The phasing structure is a progressive element that encompasses many other elements, much like the tributaries of a river, and contributes to the success of all aspects of the design.
Aims
•Create a successful public green space •Utilise the Porter Brook for flood mitigation measures •Encourage suitable habitats to encourage greater biodiversity in a highly urban area
Objectives
•Create a wetland complex that allows for flooding of the area and changes seasonally •Establish a permanent structure that benefits the local community through it’s use •Provide an exciting gateway view as you come out of the station •Bring in a large variety of flora and fauna through successionary phases •Connect with the existing green spaces, the Porter Brook and main pedestrian thoroughfares.
Conne
ct
River Strategy
“Ideas, like large riv ers, never have just one source.” Willy Ley
To acheive success in this design, it is necessary for there to be a number of key interventions that allow the various processes to happen. The aim of the river strategy is to: • Cleanse the water through natural processes •Contribute further to flood mitigation •Create a network with the river, other rivers and surrounding green spaces. The two sites illustrated here have potential to be altered. If there is possibility to implement interventions here, then there can be numerous benefits. This shows only the heavily urbanised area of the river, where it has been culverted for many years, Any alterations should take into account further upstream and the connection with Endcliffe Park and the Peak District. Bringing aspects of the local ecology down from the Porter Brook corridor would be ideal to cater for local wildlife populations as well as creating a green connection, public or not.
Matilda St car park
“In merging nature and culture the most successful cities combine such universal needs as maintaining or restoring contact with the cycles of nature, with specific, local characteristics.” ― Sally A. Kitt Chappell,
Decathlon - Sylvestet St car park
There is opportunity for these two sites to cleanse the water and create a large floodplain. This will reduce the risk of flooding for the wider Sheffield area, as well as creating potential new habitats for all manner of wildlife. Specifically, the aim of these site interventions is to increase freshwater fauna populations, bringing down fish from further upstream to more urban areas. This is likely to have a knock on effect, bringing in birds, and is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.
Enhance Allowing nature through
1:500 plan @ A1
Temporary public space able to be utilised in a positive manner to create attraction to area. E.g, markets, displays, food stalls - all to link in with Sheaf Square and make use of the hard landscape.
Pioneering brownfield vegetation...a few key species These species will form the basis of the vegetation structure as well as others. Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Pioneer vegetation allowed to grow through succession to create habitat specific to local area. May require general maintenance.
Perennial herb, currently colonising the site peripheries.
Series of wetland ponds which will fill up before flooding, successively. This will be done through sluice gates and careful landform creation. In the event of heavy rain, the surrounding floodplains will capture the water.
Found on dry soils as well as riverbanks, so likely to remain.
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Willowherb Epilobium
Vertical tree, often one of the first trees to colonise brownfield habitats.
Upright perennial that produces striking pink flowers in summer
Currently a few on existing river banks
Phase 1 Establisment of a Framework
Currently exists on site
Public space connected to the river and allows central views to the whole of the site. This will become the primary public space in later phases. Connection to the footbridge over the station has been made possible
AIMS OF PHASE
Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea Perennial with attractive purple flowers.
HOW?
Key Pioneer vegetation allowed to colonise to create natural habitats, specific to the local biodiversity. This will also act as a flood plain
EFFECTS
Exists currently on site and likely to remain
Temporary space for public engagement, utilising Sheaf Square as well Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus
Retention of existing artefact to create a threshold through to the site
Common native grass, can be seen as invasive. Ideal habitat for the small skipper butterfly. (see second page)
Alteration of river course, removing concrete channel and utilising excavated material. Implementation of permanent public space to be used for public events - illustrated later. Building a framework of wooden pathways that allow the vegetation to colonise naturally, whilst allowing public enjoyment of wetland features. These are also floodable.
The beginning phase is to create a framework for the successionary phases. Initial river improvements will be vital in flood protection along with landform changes and excavation work. Vegetation will be allowed to grow naturally, and colonise at will with careful management of some invasive species such as Buddleija and Japanese Knotweed. Ideally, the river will be the main source of seeding and this will help create a species complex that is local in character and identity with the rest of the Porter Brook. It is also necessary to create a public place, so people feel attatched and can enjoy the space, looking at the river and increasing amount of wildlife. LSC 302
Sam Bailey
100182464