A LANDSCAPE IN FLUX
SOURCES OF INCOME
MANAGEMENT AIMS
LOXLEY POSTINDUSTRIAL RIVER PARK
• • • •
Establish a long-term place-keeping partnership Identify and secure/create a range of sources of funding Engage with broad sections of the community, including schools Improve habitats for at least two key groups of animals with past or present connections to the valley (bats and salmonids) • Balance the conservation of heritage assets with the above aims
River Don Corridor Loxley Valley
THE VISION
A postindustrial river park that faces the challenges of the future and doesn’t simply look back. It has roles in both reinforcing Sheffield’s ecological network and flood management. Time is allowed to run its course with regards to vegetative succession and the materials of the site. A long-term management strategy will allow the people of Sheffield to enjoy the park for years to come.
(1) A cafe will be open inside the old farm house from day one to serve refreshments both inside and out on the river terrace.
AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR BIODIVERSITY The former fireclay mines and works are located in one of the green fingers connecting the Peak District to Sheffield. The Loxley Valley forms part of an extensive green wildlife corridor which includes the Rivelin Valley and the River Don Corridor. The latter crosses Sheffield city centre.
This site is at a crossroad. Developers are keen to turn it into a housing development understandable given the potential costs of site remediation. However, this may not be supported in terms of access or infrastructure. Left on its own, the former works will be absorbed into the landscape. An alternative solution is proposed, which relies on the site being owned by a public/private partnership.
Rivelin Valley Sheffield's Green Fingers
¯ 0
DESIGN AIMS
Sheffield City Council (SCC)
£
Local Wildlife Sites
Environment Agency
(1) The park will be integrated into the Outdoor City initiative which promotes a range of physical, adventure and cultural activities. The site already attracts runners. Trails and routes will be mapped and marked and connections to the wider network will be made clear on maps and online.
Greenbelt 0.5
1
1.5
2 Kilometers
Friends of Loxley River Park
HERITAGE & POSTINDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
Remains of sluice gate mechanisim
Aquatic and marginal
The park will have a role in flood management and contribute to efforts to reduce the peak in the River Loxley and subsequently the River Don during storms. While Sheffield has increased its resilience to floods since the 2007 floods, settlements downstream of Sheffield are still vulnerable, as we saw in Autumn 2019.
Derlict kilns, already surrounded by vegetation - site for an attenuation tank
Existing successional vegetation New successional vegetation and tree planting Deciduous woodland Ancient Woodland
Bat Conservation Trust
At Duisburg Nord, building footprints now hold water
Cycle hire
Realigned service road
Cafe, toilets and visitors centre
Access road from Loxley Lane
Redirected surface water
Attenation tank former building
WHOLE SITE MASTERPLAN
Birch trees planted on site of demolished buildings
Frame of indstrial building - allocated space for skateboarding and graffiti
AREA B
SECTION A
Site boundary
Existing rubble and vegetation
All bats need suitable roosting locations (these change throughout the year depending on metabolic requirements), suitable foraging areas, and vegetative features and structures to commute between their roots and foraging grounds[3]. The plan above shows how the park already meets these three requirements.
Existing woodland Viewing platform existing concrete platform
Attenuation water tank holding surface water that has run down hill - using former building
Cafe and visitors centre in original farmhouse and former offices
Water treatment works - off site Rubble , existing and new colonised by successional plants Brick Chimney
Bioswale with marginal planting +135.42m
SECTION A - ACROSS WEST OF PARK
Bioswale
New riverside terrace - used for cafe and events
River widened and decanalised - marginal planting on banks reduces surface pollutants entering river
Bund constructed using all from material moved to create terrace section does not cross at max height
New footpath
Parking spaces, including disabled spaces
+121.3m
Common pipestrelle and Brown long-eared roosts have been confirmed on site in former industrial buildings[4]. Records show that Daubenton’s and Soprano pipestrelle bats have been spotted on site[5]. Noctule bats are a target species for the area. All bat species and their roosts are protected in the UK. A bat licence will be obtained before removing buildings or trees that have potential roosts[5]. The shaded columns indicate habitats that are found within the park. The number of suitable buildings for roosting will be reduced during the design implementation. Bat boxes will be installed on remaining buildings (facing south, south east or south west). Air shafts and the disused mines could be suitable underground roosts for Brown long-eared and Daubenton’s bats - survey to confirm.
Site boundary
+118.13m
+117.98m
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns alllowed to crumble over time.
+117.01m
VISUALISATION OF ATTENUATION TANK AT SITE OF KILNS - VIEW TOWARDS THE EAST
Site boundary
Goit
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+116.36m
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+113.07m
SECTION B - ACROSS CENTRAL AREA OF PARK
THERESA DENDY STRAND: DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT TUTORS: JAMES HITCHMOUGH & THOMAS WHITE
+154.81m
Mine entrance and air shaft closed for safety but signed and with interpretation board
Existing semi-mature deciduous woodland
Tenanted cottages
Millpond
+123.24m
+113.16m
EVENT SPACE FULLY OPERATIONAL - CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE
RENOVATE RENTABLE WORKSPACE BUILDING AND START PUBLICISING WORKSPACES
OPEN RENTABLE WORKSPACES
CONTINUE TO RENT WORKSPACE AND ADVERTISE WHEN NOTICE GIVEN ON SPACES
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL PUBLIC ABOUT EVENTS AND WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN VISITORS AND EDUCATION CENTRE LAUNCH WEEKEND AND SERIES OF EVENTS ON TERRACE
OFFER FORESTRY WORKSHOPS TO PUBLIC
+113.11m
BAT SURVEYS BY BAT CONSERVATION TRUST WINTER AND SUMMER - REPEAT IN YEAR 6. MAP ACTIVE AND POTENTIAL ROOSTS
UPDATE ROOST MAPS BETWEEN FULL BAT SURVEYS FOLLOW ACTIONS BELOW RE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE ROOSTS AND VEGETATIVE STRUCTURES FOR FORAGING AND COMMUTING INSTALLATION OF FISH EASEMENT AND ANCILLIARY BIO-ENGINEERING WORKS
ANADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE OF SALMON
TWICE YEARLY CLEARANCE OF DEBRIS FROM EASEMENT AND MONITORING FOR SALMONID SPECIES
FORAGING
HERITAGE CONCERNS Weirs are considered by many as cultural and heritage assets. Old Wheel Weir has industrial archaeological relevance. It is not listed, but Little Matlock Mill a short walk downstream from the site is listed and this may impact the overall DCRT programme. The listing includes the water infrastructure including the weir[11]. So there are both heritage and ecological considerations when determining the future of a weir. See below. Example of large wood debris left in the River Yeo in Devon. The is scope for further wood to be added to create a barrier during storm events.
ROOSTS
Brown long-eared bat
Pipestrelle species (Common and Soprano)
• • • • • •
Brown long-eared bat
• • •
Noctule bat
Daubentons’s bat
• •
Eggs hatch in spring. Young fish live in freshwater for up to fouryears feeding primarily on invertebrates
• • • •
• • • • •
Adult fish migrate to freshwater to spawn in autumn/winter inexcavated depressions - ‘redds’. Adult fish use up energy stores and the majority die.
REASONS TO REMOVE WEIR Restore river to preindustrial state Weirs erode over time - repair costs Increase connection along river allowing migration Potentially improve gravel deposits - improved spawning conditions for certain species • Allows lateral movement of river - extent increases and connection to flood plain improves • Creation of backwaters suitable for still water dwellling species • Weirs make it easier for predators to capture prey • • • •
REASONS TO RETAIN WEIR • Prevent removal or damage to culturally valued industrial • • • • •
heritage Risk of disturbing industrial contamination in sediment deposits upstream of weir Need to remove weirs and barriers downstream first to prevent silt building up downstream Weirs may prevent signal cray fish migrating upstream Extent or quality of upstream habitats may be limited Potential increased flood risk - need to model removal
PRINCIPLES
SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Roosts - Woodlands are rich in old trees, in particular oak and beech, which are excellent for roosting - maintain old trees • Temperature and humidity of roosts are critical to bats • Foraging - Maintain a vegetative structure that accommodates different hunting habits, eg Brown long-eared bats glean insects from low shrubs and ground cover. Pipestrelles and Noctules benefit from edges and half open surroundings. • Invertebrates - a habitat that encourages insects will support bats • Commuting - we already know that the river corridor is ideal for bat commuting.
EASEMENT
ACTIONS
OTHER ASPECTS
• Programme of bat surveys managed by the Bat Conservation Trust, firstly in the winter and then in the summer. Repeat survey every five years • Physically mark up trees that have active roosts • Create a map of these roosts and also identify and record trees that could potentially be roosts. Update these maps every two years. • Maintain a vegetation buffer around roost trees - ideally canopy cover one and half times the canopy of the tree. Map the buffer areas • Retain and plant native climbing plants - ivy and honeysuckle - for foraging and roosting • Increase ground cover in woodlands - native flowering and fruiting plants will attract invertebrates • Increase aquatic insect food supplies using marginal aquatic planting in the shallows of the millpond and the River Loxley • Plant aquatic vegetation in the large attenuation tanks • Maintain sunny openings - this maximises insects and diversity • Coppicing/thinning programme to allow light and ground cover growth in selected areas - particularly in areas of dense young birch • Retain bankside trees and replace lost trees as these provide cover for bats and create conditions for insects • Refer to roost maps before embarking on any felling • Retain deadwood in forest by selectively retaining dead trees and piling deadwood • Carry out operational risk assessments in line with protected species guidance before undertaking woodland operations.
• Carry out river habitat survey, identifying abundance or shortage of the habitats required by salmon and other salmonids. Assess substrates, refuge, vegetation cover, flow rates and dynamics. Survey for salmon and other salmonids • Use gravel fixing techniques in locations where there is unsuitable substrate, but other factors are present. • Placement of large woody debris to create pools and refuge for salmonids • Reintroduce juvenile salmon to the river and survey quarterly.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS Large wood debris (LWD) will be introduced to the river as a form of natural flood management. LWD is beneficial to fish in many ways: providing shelter from fast flowing water, shade and refuge and serve as territorial markers migratory fish. It also increases the retention of organic matter and nutrients and creates pools and channels that provide additional refuge and habitat particularly suitable for juvenile fish. There is little evidence that LWD hinders fish passage. Unlike weirs, there are usually gaps that fish can navigate.[12]
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR OLD WHEEL WEIR? The solution to enable the passage of salmon and other salmonids is an easement at Old Wheel Weir. It is low cost and it should not the damage weir, which may be viewed as a heritage asset. DCRT has installed an easement on a similar scale weir in Sheffield city centre at Lady’s Bridge[13] and with the introduction of fish passes and easements salmon now have a clear run all the way to Sheffield[14]. If there is a wider move upstream of Sheffield to naturalise the River Loxley then heritage concerns should give way to ecological concerns and weir removal should be seriously considered on the River Loxley. A factor leading to this initial conclusion is the quality and extent of upstream habitat upstream of the weir. There is only 1300m of River Loxley between the weir and Damflask reservoir (a practically impossible barrier). Sykehouse Brook a tributary to the River Loxley may offer a suitable habitat for salmonids, but this would need to be assessed[7]. Also there are still further small weirs upstream and they need easements too. A catchment wide approach as taken by DCRT cannot be avoided. Re-profiling of the channel upstream of Old Wheel Weir as per the design, may improve river morphology for spawning. There is also potential to fix gravel upstream and create refuges. Therefore ancillary bio-engineering should accompany the easement.
• Make use of the expertise of the Don Catchment Rivers Trust in specifying easement and coordinate with DCRT with regards to the wider programme • Access and risk assessments required before any easement works • Engage DCRT or River Stewardship Company to clear the easement of debris twice yearly and after storm events.
Visualisation of easement installed at Old Wheel Weir - it’s low impact both materially and aesthetically
Salmon fry on gravel substrate (Westcountry Rivers Trust no date)
Images
Prominski, M. et al., (2012). River. Space. Design: Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers. Basel: Birkhauser. The Wildlife Trusts, (2006). Managing Woody Debris in Rivers, Streams & Floodplains. s.l.: Staffordshire WildlifeTrust. [3] Gunnell, K., Grant, G. & Williams, C., (2012). Landscape and urban design for bats and biodiversity. s.l.: Bat Conservation Trust. [4] e3p, (2019). Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Storrs Bridge. Manchester: e3p. [5] NBN atlas, (n.d.). Occurrence records. [Viewed 12 May 2020] Available from: https://records.nbnatlas.org/occurrences/search [6] Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D., (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Peterborough: English Nature. [7] ARUP, (2013). Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. [8] River Restoration Centre, (2013). Weir removal, lowering and modification: A review of best practice. Bristol: The Environment Agency. [9] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (n.d.). River Loxley Fish Passage [Online]. Don Catchment River Trust. [Viewed 27 April 2020] Available from: https://dcrt.org. uk/river-loxley-fish-passage-2. [10] Sheffield Telegraph, (2016). Special Report: Getting into the flow of a very fishy rewilding project around Dovedale [Online]. Sheffield Telegraph. [Viewed 23 April 2020]. Available from: https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/special-report-getting-flow-very-fishy-rewilding-project-around-dovedale471761#gsc.tab=0 [11] Historic England, (n.d.). Little Matlock rolling mill immediately south and east of Olive Terrace [Online] . Historic England. [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019857. [12] North West Fisheries Science Center, (2015). Research finds woody debris benefits fish [Online]. North West Fisheries Science Center. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available friom: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/woody_debris/index.cfm. [13] Hayes, D., (2020). Salmon return to Sheffield for first time in 200 years - thanks to £1.4m River Don project. The Star [Online]. (7 January). [Viewed 20 January 2020]. Available from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/environment/salmon-return-sheffield-first-time-200-years-thanks-ps14m-river-don-project-1354805 [14] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (2020). Rotherham River Revitalised [Online]. Don Catchment Rivers Trust. [Viewed 5 June 2020] Available from: https://doncatchment.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/rotherham-river-revitalised/
2007 Floods: Holmes, D., (2007). Flooding at Storrs Bridge [digital image] Derelict Kilns: tarkovsky, (2019). The Kilns [digital image]. [Viewed 15 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hepworth-refractories-storrs-bridge-works-sheffield-july-2019.119180/ Duisburg Nord: Latz, M., (ca. 2011). Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord [digital image]. [Viewed 16 January 2020]. Available from: http://landezine.com/index. php/2011/08/post-industrial-landscape-architecture/. Paving using reclaimed bricks :Family Gardent Trains, (n.d.). Reclaimed bricks [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://familygardentrains.com/primer/landscaping/pool2patio/pool2patio.htm Bodpave cells with grass: Ultimate One Online,(n.d.). Paver with grass [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/ bodpave-40-green-porous-pavers-30sqm-120-grids-50x50x4cm-p-864 Resin bound gravel: addagrip, no date. Resin bound gravel path [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.addagrip.co.uk/159/external-surfacing/addabound/case-studies/paths-patios-and-courtyards/jo-yeates-memorial-garden Cafe: Unknown, (n.d.) Man holding jug [digital image]. [Viewed 6 May 2020]. Available from https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-sqjqw Cycle hire: IHA holiday ads, (n.d.). Cycle hire [digital image] Concert: Junior Libby, no date. Concert [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=299412&picture=concert The Outdoor City: The Outdoor City Sheffield,(n.d.). Outdoor City Run Routes [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/blog/read/2019/01/find-your-pace-with-the-outdoor-city-run-routes-b113 Coppicing: Woodland Trust, (2018). Practical Coppice Management [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://whittle.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ tag/coppice-management/ Volunteers: Keynsham Voice, (2015). Wildlife Trust volunteers [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Availalbe from https://www.keynshamvoice.co.uk/wildlifesurvey-to-reveal-health-of-keynsham-river Brown long-eared bat: Bat Conservation Trust, (n.d.). Brown long-eared bat. [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.bats.org.uk/ about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
[2]
Picnic shelter existing structure
+115.69m
WORKS ON EVENT SPACE, MARKETING OF SPACE, PILOT EVENT, START TAKING BOOKINGS
References [1]
Existing classic car restoration and storage business
SECTION C- ACROSS EAST OF PARK
RECRUIT INITAL TEAM TO MANAGE NEW RIVERSIDE EVENT SPACE AND PLAN WORKS
SECTION C
Shared workspace for renting by new and small businesses
+139.62m
RUN PROGRAMME OF REGULAR AND NEW EVENTS
In order to protect, retain and ensure a succession of roosts and to ensure the improvement of vegetative structures, ie low ground cover for Brown long-eared bats or canopy protection over water, a dedicated management bat plan will operate after the park is open:
+117.00m
Improved footpath following goit
to the park are rich in old oaks and beeeches which have a very strong roosting potential
BAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
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+119.26m
A network of streams create wet woodlands that are a foraging ground for all four target species Ancient woodlands adjacent
The table on the right shows target bat species for the park and their foraging and roosting requirements. It is adapted from a less species specific table[3].
+127.51m +122.47m
New route
Large woody debris
New road to provide access to facilities and water treatment works
+126.61m
River Loxley - Groyne constructed from onsite rubble and stone will push river into left bank
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns allowed to crumble over time. Marginal and aquatic planting
Groyne constructed with large pieces of site rubble
AREA A
Airshafts and entrance to mines serve as underground roosts for Daubenton’s and Brown long-eared bats
Deciduous woodland containing oak, beech, ash and elm - all trees good or very good for roosting potential. Silver birch is plentiful and very good for foraging
Bioswales
Surface water, that already runs this course is channelled into tank
LAUNCH TICKETTED OUTDOOR EVENTS
1.5m high
Resurfaced path
Old Wheel weir location for fish easement
Widened decanalised river with marginal planting, such as flag iris
Resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate
C
Successional vegetation colonising low nutrient area cleared of industrial buildings. This is a wildscape for playing or relaxing in.
PLAN PROGRAMME OF TICKETTED PUBLIC OUTDOOR EVENTS
CURRENT STATUS OF RIVER The River Loxley is a Heavily Modified Water Body (HMWB) and assessed as “Moderate’ by the Environment Agency for ecological measures. A River over-widened downstream - shallow factor restricting the river’s ecological potential is WHAT DO SALMON NEED? flows leading to Dressed masonary blocks weirs. They are barriers for 2eels, brook lampray and Atlantic salmon are anadromous - moving between fresh and marine water during their life cycle. As shown deposition of coarse 0.2 m sediment creating midsalmonid species, such as salmon, in the diagram below, salmon fry hatch in freshwater and after developing in fresh water for two to four years wid brown trout and channel bar and side e Coarse grayling, to migrating upstream to spawn. They also migrate to the sea to mature. They then return to their spawning ground to spawn. The main needs of salmon channel pe sediments and osupply l s restrict natural sediment from upper reaches in their early and later freshwater phases are: 2 artificial materials 1 inreaches of water courses, to the mid and lower along channel bed • Gravel with clear interstices to allow water to flow through - ie free of silt reducing the availability of suitable spawning habitats.[7][8] • Refuges such as logs and branches and canopy • Absence of migratory barriers • Coarse boulder habitats for older fish[6] WEIR REMOVAL There are programmes driven by the EU Water Upstream, channel is over deep and channelised. Framework Directive to remove weirs or install other This has caused lack of Salmon migrate to fish passage interventions. For instance, The Don hydromorphological diversity marine waters for adult Catchment River Trust (DCRT) has a programme in - no spawning or refugia habitat development and rapid Old Wheel Weir (ARUP 2013) the Don catchment and considers the River Loxley growth and nearby River Rivelin to have best potential in the Don Catchment to be a future spawning grounds[9]. To the west of the Pennines there is programme of weir removal (6 per year) and re-naturalisation which is returning the River Dove to its pre-industrial condition[10]. There are 200 weirs in the Don Catchment, one of which is Old Wheel Weir at the heart of the site. No weir can be considered in isolation - programmes need to start downstream and move progressively up stream.
Underground sites
Attenation tank former building
CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE CYCLE HIRE THROUGH SCC NEWSLETTER AND OUTDOOR CITY
MONITOR FISH PASSAGE WORKS IN WIDER DON CATCHMENT
Rivers and streams provide canopied corridors for commuting
Buildings
Wetland woodland Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
EXPAND CYCLE HIRE INTO BUILDINGS OPPOSITE CAFE
‘Lox’ has a Germanic root meaning salmon, but the River Loxley, which flows into the River Don, is no longer inhabited by salmon, following its industrialisation. Sightings of another salmonid species, brown trout, are recorded[5].
Trees
Entrance to former clay mines
Ramp
Brick Chimney
YEAR 5
RETURNING SALMON TO THE RIVER ‘LOX’LEY
Open/parkland
Tenanted cottages Existing garage business
Bodpave cells with grass
The riverside terrace needs to be both permeable and robust enough to withstand flooding. It will have two surfaces, a recycled brick surface that uses fire bricks and building bricks already on site, and grass growing within plastic porous pavers (Bodpave).
Existing bowling club
Existing open sided shelter
HABITAT
Range of deep and shallow waterbodies provde a source of invertebrates such as caddis flies. Millpond is open with tree canopy at edges- opportunity to increase marginal/aquatic vegetation. Attenuation tanks will hold varying levels of water and aquatic vegetation
Most existing hard surfaces will be retained, including the concrete footpaths. New footpaths and resurfaced paths will be permeable and constructed of resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate.
Bioswales
Old Wheel millpond
Existing successional vegetation
YEAR 4
CONSULT WITH FRIENDS GROUP AND WIDER PUBLIC TO MEASURE SUCCESS AT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY
MATERIALS
Picnic shelter using existing open sided shelter
YEAR 3
START SMALL SCALE CYCLE HIRE FROM CAFE
VOLUNTEERS
Wetland
C’
SKILLS
INCREASING BAT POPULATIONS
Riverside terrace with steps and stepped seating - ground level reduced and earth moved to bund. Terrace to hold water in a storm event.
Shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses
DETAILED AREA B
KNOWLEDGE
The diagram above illustrates the anticipated partners in the place-keeping partnership along with their expected contributions.
DETAILED AREA A B
FINANCE
A range of skills and knowledge will be necessary to achieve this. For instance, this is a sustainable design that combines succession with responsive vegetation management. Non-traditional management and maintenance skills are required which are more likely to be found in third sector.
Paving using reclaimed bricks
Water treatment works
YEAR 2
OPEN CAFE
INTEGRATE PATHS WITHIN SITE TO EXTERNAL FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS ETC, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PUBLICITY THROUGH SCC AND OUTDOOR CITY
The park will not be made the day the design is implemented. A place-keeping partnership will maintain and enhance the special qualities of the park through a long-term proactive and responsive management plan that will protect the ecological, cultural and heritage values of the site.
Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
A
£
Earthworks bund planted with birch and cherry trees
Existing classic car business
(4) The habitat creation actions detailed below will be supported by surveying and monitoring activity manpowered by volunteers and led by third sector groups such as Don River Catchment Trust.
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE SURVEYS
OVERSIGHT
Parking
B’
(3) There is plenty of scope to introduce management activities to the woodlands on site, in order to create a variety of form, introduce different species and ground cover, and to improve habitats. Under the guidance of the Woodland Trust, volunteers will engage in management activities such as coppicing.
TOURS OF THE PARK BY FRIENDS GROUP DIFFERENT THEMES - HERITAGE, WATER, BIODIVERSITY
£
Vegetative succession has taken hold on many parts of the site. Derelict spaces can have a greater diversity of species compared to climactic vegetation. Wildflowers and pioneer trees have colonised areas of hardstanding. As much of this vegetation as possible is to be retained. A similar approach was applied in Schöneberger Südgelände Park, Berlin, Germany. Succession will also be encouraged in locations of newly demolished buildings.
Successional vegetation at an abandoned railyard that was left for decades and now dominates Südgelände Park, Berlin
Pioneer trees and wild flowers have colonised hardstanding on the site over the past 20 years
On site businesses
The fileclay kilns in the centre of the site will sit in an attenuation tank formed from the buildings that contained them. The kilns will be allowed to crumble of over time.
Function space
Cafe, toilets, education and visitors centre
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
SUCCESSION
• Lowering the river bank and creating a terrace to hold back water • Attenuation channels (bioswales) and tanks using existing structures and on site material • Changing river dynamics by the use of groins built using on-site materials • Large woody debris (a natural flood management strategy) from the woodlands on site[2]
Don Catchment River Trust
Woodland Trust
Open woodland
Lidar data and on site surveys have been used to understand the topography of the site. A range of strategies for river and surface water management[1] will be used on the site including:
INCOME SOURCES
Closed Woodland
The site was badly flooded in the 2007 floods and many parts are at high risk of flood, Surface water from various streams and uplands is a constant pressure on the site.
Wetland Woodland
There many buildings on site which are in various degrees of decay invoke exploration, curiosity and playfulness among visitors. Poor quality and hazardous structures will be removed, but other structures will be retained and used in the water infrastructure (precedents for this include Duisburg Nord, Emscher Park, Germany) or re-purposed into functional buildings.
WATER STRATEGY
A’
(2) The old farmhouse and adjacent former offices, which overhang the river, will be converted into a visitors and education centre. There will be space for exhibitions and meeting/classrooms. This is in addition to the toilets and cafe facility (above). The centre will be a meeting point for volunteer groups.
YEAR 1
Friends of Loxley Valley
Loxley River Park Partnership
PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPOLOGIES
The valley has a rich industrial heritage, due to the presence of industry since early C18th. The two priority elements of this heritage to conserve and enable the public to interpret are the vestiges of the mining activity on the site and the water power infrastructure. Bunker near entrance to mine entrance
Cannalised river in east of park will be widened and a terrace built to hold water during storm events
(5) The large red brick building, accessible from the eastern access road, will be converted into a shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses.
Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019
• Acknowledge and mitigate the effects of climate change using water management strategies, such as the visible attenuation of stormwater • Retain and reinforce the site’s ecological role in the green wildlife corridor running from the Peak District to Sheffield through the Loxley valley • A series of spaces, places and networks that allow the public to explore and interpret the industrial ruins of the former works • Work as much as possible with the existing, and build on the material and vegetative assets of the site
2007 flood
(4) Ticketed cultural events will be held on the terrace - music, theatre, children’s entertainment...
£
Yorkshire Water
Peak Park
0.25
(3) The industrial building behind the farmhouse will be converted into an event space which will open out on the south side onto the river.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
£
Site
(2) A cycle hire centre will be housed in sheds opposite cafe.
+113.39m
+115.14m
Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon: adapted from Salmon & Trout Conservation, (no date). Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon [Illustration]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from https://www.salmon-trout.org/salmon/ Old Wheel Weir images: ARUP, (2013). Old Wheel Weir [digital images]. In ARUP. Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. Salmon Fry: Westcountry Rivers Trust (n.d.). Salmon fry on gravel [digital image]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from: https://wrt.org.uk/fry/ Bibliography Ball, C., Crossley, D. & Flavell, N., (2006). Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers. 2nd ed. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. Dempsey, N., Smith , H. & Burton , M., (2014). Place-Keeping: Open Space Managment in Practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Edensor, T., (2005). Industrial Ruins: Space Aesthetics and Materiality. Oxford: Berg. Forestry Commission England, (2005). Woodland management for bats. Wetherby: Forestry Commission for England and Wales. France, R.L., 2002. Handbook of water sensitive planning and design, Boca Raton, Fla. ; London: Lewis Publishers. Gilbert, O.L., (1992). The flowering of the cities : the natural flora of “urban commons”. Peterborough: English Nature. Jones, M., (1993). Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage. Revised ed. Sheffield: Sheffield City Libraries. Jorgensen & R. Keenan, (2012). Urban Wildscapes. Abingdon:Routledge. Latz, A. & Latz, P., 2001. Imaginative Landscapes out of Industrial Dereliction. In: M. Echenique & A. Saint, eds. Cities for the New Millenium. London: Spon Press, pp73-78. Lawton, J. et al., (2010). Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. s.l., DEFRA Local Government Association, (n.d.). Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities. [Online]. Local Government Association [ Viewed 13 January 2020]. Available from: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-roles-and Patrick Properties, (2019). New Homes in Loxley [Online]. Available from: https://newhomesinloxley.co.uk/ [Viewed 7 January 2020]. Shaw, J., Skinner, K., Humphreys, A. & Sewell, R., (n.d.). Instream Barriers Assessment. s.l.: Atkins.
A LANDSCAPE IN FLUX
SOURCES OF INCOME
MANAGEMENT AIMS
LOXLEY POSTINDUSTRIAL RIVER PARK
• • • •
Establish a long-term place-keeping partnership Identify and secure/create a range of sources of funding Engage with broad sections of the community, including schools Improve habitats for at least two key groups of animals with past or present connections to the valley (bats and salmonids) • Balance the conservation of heritage assets with the above aims
River Don Corridor Loxley Valley
THE VISION
A postindustrial river park that faces the challenges of the future and doesn’t simply look back. It has roles in both reinforcing Sheffield’s ecological network and flood management. Time is allowed to run its course with regards to vegetative succession and the materials of the site. A long-term management strategy will allow the people of Sheffield to enjoy the park for years to come.
(1) A cafe will be open inside the old farm house from day one to serve refreshments both inside and out on the river terrace.
AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR BIODIVERSITY The former fireclay mines and works are located in one of the green fingers connecting the Peak District to Sheffield. The Loxley Valley forms part of an extensive green wildlife corridor which includes the Rivelin Valley and the River Don Corridor. The latter crosses Sheffield city centre.
This site is at a crossroad. Developers are keen to turn it into a housing development understandable given the potential costs of site remediation. However, this may not be supported in terms of access or infrastructure. Left on its own, the former works will be absorbed into the landscape. An alternative solution is proposed, which relies on the site being owned by a public/private partnership.
Rivelin Valley Sheffield's Green Fingers
¯ 0
DESIGN AIMS
Sheffield City Council (SCC)
£
Local Wildlife Sites
Environment Agency
(1) The park will be integrated into the Outdoor City initiative which promotes a range of physical, adventure and cultural activities. The site already attracts runners. Trails and routes will be mapped and marked and connections to the wider network will be made clear on maps and online.
Greenbelt 0.5
1
1.5
2 Kilometers
Friends of Loxley River Park
HERITAGE & POSTINDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
Remains of sluice gate mechanisim
Aquatic and marginal
The park will have a role in flood management and contribute to efforts to reduce the peak in the River Loxley and subsequently the River Don during storms. While Sheffield has increased its resilience to floods since the 2007 floods, settlements downstream of Sheffield are still vulnerable, as we saw in Autumn 2019.
Derlict kilns, already surrounded by vegetation - site for an attenuation tank
Existing successional vegetation New successional vegetation and tree planting Deciduous woodland Ancient Woodland
Bat Conservation Trust
At Duisburg Nord, building footprints now hold water
Cycle hire
Realigned service road
Cafe, toilets and visitors centre
Access road from Loxley Lane
Redirected surface water
Attenation tank former building
WHOLE SITE MASTERPLAN
Birch trees planted on site of demolished buildings
Frame of indstrial building - allocated space for skateboarding and graffiti
AREA B
SECTION A
Site boundary
Existing rubble and vegetation
All bats need suitable roosting locations (these change throughout the year depending on metabolic requirements), suitable foraging areas, and vegetative features and structures to commute between their roots and foraging grounds[3]. The plan above shows how the park already meets these three requirements.
Existing woodland Viewing platform existing concrete platform
Attenuation water tank holding surface water that has run down hill - using former building
Cafe and visitors centre in original farmhouse and former offices
Water treatment works - off site Rubble , existing and new colonised by successional plants Brick Chimney
Bioswale with marginal planting +135.42m
SECTION A - ACROSS WEST OF PARK
Bioswale
New riverside terrace - used for cafe and events
River widened and decanalised - marginal planting on banks reduces surface pollutants entering river
Bund constructed using all from material moved to create terrace section does not cross at max height
New footpath
Parking spaces, including disabled spaces
+121.3m
Common pipestrelle and Brown long-eared roosts have been confirmed on site in former industrial buildings[4]. Records show that Daubenton’s and Soprano pipestrelle bats have been spotted on site[5]. Noctule bats are a target species for the area. All bat species and their roosts are protected in the UK. A bat licence will be obtained before removing buildings or trees that have potential roosts[5]. The shaded columns indicate habitats that are found within the park. The number of suitable buildings for roosting will be reduced during the design implementation. Bat boxes will be installed on remaining buildings (facing south, south east or south west). Air shafts and the disused mines could be suitable underground roosts for Brown long-eared and Daubenton’s bats - survey to confirm.
Site boundary
+118.13m
+117.98m
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns alllowed to crumble over time.
+117.01m
VISUALISATION OF ATTENUATION TANK AT SITE OF KILNS - VIEW TOWARDS THE EAST
Site boundary
Goit
+118.00m +115.69m
+116.36m
+115.54m +113.73m
+113.07m
SECTION B - ACROSS CENTRAL AREA OF PARK
THERESA DENDY STRAND: DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT TUTORS: JAMES HITCHMOUGH & THOMAS WHITE
+154.81m
Mine entrance and air shaft closed for safety but signed and with interpretation board
Existing semi-mature deciduous woodland
Tenanted cottages
Millpond
+123.24m
+113.16m
EVENT SPACE FULLY OPERATIONAL - CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE
RENOVATE RENTABLE WORKSPACE BUILDING AND START PUBLICISING WORKSPACES
OPEN RENTABLE WORKSPACES
CONTINUE TO RENT WORKSPACE AND ADVERTISE WHEN NOTICE GIVEN ON SPACES
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL PUBLIC ABOUT EVENTS AND WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN VISITORS AND EDUCATION CENTRE LAUNCH WEEKEND AND SERIES OF EVENTS ON TERRACE
OFFER FORESTRY WORKSHOPS TO PUBLIC
+113.11m
BAT SURVEYS BY BAT CONSERVATION TRUST WINTER AND SUMMER - REPEAT IN YEAR 6. MAP ACTIVE AND POTENTIAL ROOSTS
UPDATE ROOST MAPS BETWEEN FULL BAT SURVEYS FOLLOW ACTIONS BELOW RE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE ROOSTS AND VEGETATIVE STRUCTURES FOR FORAGING AND COMMUTING INSTALLATION OF FISH EASEMENT AND ANCILLIARY BIO-ENGINEERING WORKS
ANADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE OF SALMON
TWICE YEARLY CLEARANCE OF DEBRIS FROM EASEMENT AND MONITORING FOR SALMONID SPECIES
FORAGING
HERITAGE CONCERNS Weirs are considered by many as cultural and heritage assets. Old Wheel Weir has industrial archaeological relevance. It is not listed, but Little Matlock Mill a short walk downstream from the site is listed and this may impact the overall DCRT programme. The listing includes the water infrastructure including the weir[11]. So there are both heritage and ecological considerations when determining the future of a weir. See below. Example of large wood debris left in the River Yeo in Devon. The is scope for further wood to be added to create a barrier during storm events.
ROOSTS
Brown long-eared bat
Pipestrelle species (Common and Soprano)
• • • • • •
Brown long-eared bat
• • •
Noctule bat
Daubentons’s bat
• •
Eggs hatch in spring. Young fish live in freshwater for up to fouryears feeding primarily on invertebrates
• • • •
• • • • •
Adult fish migrate to freshwater to spawn in autumn/winter inexcavated depressions - ‘redds’. Adult fish use up energy stores and the majority die.
REASONS TO REMOVE WEIR Restore river to preindustrial state Weirs erode over time - repair costs Increase connection along river allowing migration Potentially improve gravel deposits - improved spawning conditions for certain species • Allows lateral movement of river - extent increases and connection to flood plain improves • Creation of backwaters suitable for still water dwellling species • Weirs make it easier for predators to capture prey • • • •
REASONS TO RETAIN WEIR • Prevent removal or damage to culturally valued industrial • • • • •
heritage Risk of disturbing industrial contamination in sediment deposits upstream of weir Need to remove weirs and barriers downstream first to prevent silt building up downstream Weirs may prevent signal cray fish migrating upstream Extent or quality of upstream habitats may be limited Potential increased flood risk - need to model removal
PRINCIPLES
SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Roosts - Woodlands are rich in old trees, in particular oak and beech, which are excellent for roosting - maintain old trees • Temperature and humidity of roosts are critical to bats • Foraging - Maintain a vegetative structure that accommodates different hunting habits, eg Brown long-eared bats glean insects from low shrubs and ground cover. Pipestrelles and Noctules benefit from edges and half open surroundings. • Invertebrates - a habitat that encourages insects will support bats • Commuting - we already know that the river corridor is ideal for bat commuting.
EASEMENT
ACTIONS
OTHER ASPECTS
• Programme of bat surveys managed by the Bat Conservation Trust, firstly in the winter and then in the summer. Repeat survey every five years • Physically mark up trees that have active roosts • Create a map of these roosts and also identify and record trees that could potentially be roosts. Update these maps every two years. • Maintain a vegetation buffer around roost trees - ideally canopy cover one and half times the canopy of the tree. Map the buffer areas • Retain and plant native climbing plants - ivy and honeysuckle - for foraging and roosting • Increase ground cover in woodlands - native flowering and fruiting plants will attract invertebrates • Increase aquatic insect food supplies using marginal aquatic planting in the shallows of the millpond and the River Loxley • Plant aquatic vegetation in the large attenuation tanks • Maintain sunny openings - this maximises insects and diversity • Coppicing/thinning programme to allow light and ground cover growth in selected areas - particularly in areas of dense young birch • Retain bankside trees and replace lost trees as these provide cover for bats and create conditions for insects • Refer to roost maps before embarking on any felling • Retain deadwood in forest by selectively retaining dead trees and piling deadwood • Carry out operational risk assessments in line with protected species guidance before undertaking woodland operations.
• Carry out river habitat survey, identifying abundance or shortage of the habitats required by salmon and other salmonids. Assess substrates, refuge, vegetation cover, flow rates and dynamics. Survey for salmon and other salmonids • Use gravel fixing techniques in locations where there is unsuitable substrate, but other factors are present. • Placement of large woody debris to create pools and refuge for salmonids • Reintroduce juvenile salmon to the river and survey quarterly.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS Large wood debris (LWD) will be introduced to the river as a form of natural flood management. LWD is beneficial to fish in many ways: providing shelter from fast flowing water, shade and refuge and serve as territorial markers migratory fish. It also increases the retention of organic matter and nutrients and creates pools and channels that provide additional refuge and habitat particularly suitable for juvenile fish. There is little evidence that LWD hinders fish passage. Unlike weirs, there are usually gaps that fish can navigate.[12]
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR OLD WHEEL WEIR? The solution to enable the passage of salmon and other salmonids is an easement at Old Wheel Weir. It is low cost and it should not the damage weir, which may be viewed as a heritage asset. DCRT has installed an easement on a similar scale weir in Sheffield city centre at Lady’s Bridge[13] and with the introduction of fish passes and easements salmon now have a clear run all the way to Sheffield[14]. If there is a wider move upstream of Sheffield to naturalise the River Loxley then heritage concerns should give way to ecological concerns and weir removal should be seriously considered on the River Loxley. A factor leading to this initial conclusion is the quality and extent of upstream habitat upstream of the weir. There is only 1300m of River Loxley between the weir and Damflask reservoir (a practically impossible barrier). Sykehouse Brook a tributary to the River Loxley may offer a suitable habitat for salmonids, but this would need to be assessed[7]. Also there are still further small weirs upstream and they need easements too. A catchment wide approach as taken by DCRT cannot be avoided. Re-profiling of the channel upstream of Old Wheel Weir as per the design, may improve river morphology for spawning. There is also potential to fix gravel upstream and create refuges. Therefore ancillary bio-engineering should accompany the easement.
• Make use of the expertise of the Don Catchment Rivers Trust in specifying easement and coordinate with DCRT with regards to the wider programme • Access and risk assessments required before any easement works • Engage DCRT or River Stewardship Company to clear the easement of debris twice yearly and after storm events.
Visualisation of easement installed at Old Wheel Weir - it’s low impact both materially and aesthetically
Salmon fry on gravel substrate (Westcountry Rivers Trust no date)
Images
Prominski, M. et al., (2012). River. Space. Design: Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers. Basel: Birkhauser. The Wildlife Trusts, (2006). Managing Woody Debris in Rivers, Streams & Floodplains. s.l.: Staffordshire WildlifeTrust. [3] Gunnell, K., Grant, G. & Williams, C., (2012). Landscape and urban design for bats and biodiversity. s.l.: Bat Conservation Trust. [4] e3p, (2019). Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Storrs Bridge. Manchester: e3p. [5] NBN atlas, (n.d.). Occurrence records. [Viewed 12 May 2020] Available from: https://records.nbnatlas.org/occurrences/search [6] Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D., (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Peterborough: English Nature. [7] ARUP, (2013). Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. [8] River Restoration Centre, (2013). Weir removal, lowering and modification: A review of best practice. Bristol: The Environment Agency. [9] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (n.d.). River Loxley Fish Passage [Online]. Don Catchment River Trust. [Viewed 27 April 2020] Available from: https://dcrt.org. uk/river-loxley-fish-passage-2. [10] Sheffield Telegraph, (2016). Special Report: Getting into the flow of a very fishy rewilding project around Dovedale [Online]. Sheffield Telegraph. [Viewed 23 April 2020]. Available from: https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/special-report-getting-flow-very-fishy-rewilding-project-around-dovedale471761#gsc.tab=0 [11] Historic England, (n.d.). Little Matlock rolling mill immediately south and east of Olive Terrace [Online] . Historic England. [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019857. [12] North West Fisheries Science Center, (2015). Research finds woody debris benefits fish [Online]. North West Fisheries Science Center. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available friom: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/woody_debris/index.cfm. [13] Hayes, D., (2020). Salmon return to Sheffield for first time in 200 years - thanks to £1.4m River Don project. The Star [Online]. (7 January). [Viewed 20 January 2020]. Available from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/environment/salmon-return-sheffield-first-time-200-years-thanks-ps14m-river-don-project-1354805 [14] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (2020). Rotherham River Revitalised [Online]. Don Catchment Rivers Trust. [Viewed 5 June 2020] Available from: https://doncatchment.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/rotherham-river-revitalised/
2007 Floods: Holmes, D., (2007). Flooding at Storrs Bridge [digital image] Derelict Kilns: tarkovsky, (2019). The Kilns [digital image]. [Viewed 15 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hepworth-refractories-storrs-bridge-works-sheffield-july-2019.119180/ Duisburg Nord: Latz, M., (ca. 2011). Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord [digital image]. [Viewed 16 January 2020]. Available from: http://landezine.com/index. php/2011/08/post-industrial-landscape-architecture/. Paving using reclaimed bricks :Family Gardent Trains, (n.d.). Reclaimed bricks [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://familygardentrains.com/primer/landscaping/pool2patio/pool2patio.htm Bodpave cells with grass: Ultimate One Online,(n.d.). Paver with grass [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/ bodpave-40-green-porous-pavers-30sqm-120-grids-50x50x4cm-p-864 Resin bound gravel: addagrip, no date. Resin bound gravel path [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.addagrip.co.uk/159/external-surfacing/addabound/case-studies/paths-patios-and-courtyards/jo-yeates-memorial-garden Cafe: Unknown, (n.d.) Man holding jug [digital image]. [Viewed 6 May 2020]. Available from https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-sqjqw Cycle hire: IHA holiday ads, (n.d.). Cycle hire [digital image] Concert: Junior Libby, no date. Concert [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=299412&picture=concert The Outdoor City: The Outdoor City Sheffield,(n.d.). Outdoor City Run Routes [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/blog/read/2019/01/find-your-pace-with-the-outdoor-city-run-routes-b113 Coppicing: Woodland Trust, (2018). Practical Coppice Management [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://whittle.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ tag/coppice-management/ Volunteers: Keynsham Voice, (2015). Wildlife Trust volunteers [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Availalbe from https://www.keynshamvoice.co.uk/wildlifesurvey-to-reveal-health-of-keynsham-river Brown long-eared bat: Bat Conservation Trust, (n.d.). Brown long-eared bat. [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.bats.org.uk/ about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
[2]
Picnic shelter existing structure
+115.69m
WORKS ON EVENT SPACE, MARKETING OF SPACE, PILOT EVENT, START TAKING BOOKINGS
References [1]
Existing classic car restoration and storage business
SECTION C- ACROSS EAST OF PARK
RECRUIT INITAL TEAM TO MANAGE NEW RIVERSIDE EVENT SPACE AND PLAN WORKS
SECTION C
Shared workspace for renting by new and small businesses
+139.62m
RUN PROGRAMME OF REGULAR AND NEW EVENTS
In order to protect, retain and ensure a succession of roosts and to ensure the improvement of vegetative structures, ie low ground cover for Brown long-eared bats or canopy protection over water, a dedicated management bat plan will operate after the park is open:
+117.00m
Improved footpath following goit
to the park are rich in old oaks and beeeches which have a very strong roosting potential
BAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
+119.53m
+119.26m
A network of streams create wet woodlands that are a foraging ground for all four target species Ancient woodlands adjacent
The table on the right shows target bat species for the park and their foraging and roosting requirements. It is adapted from a less species specific table[3].
+127.51m +122.47m
New route
Large woody debris
New road to provide access to facilities and water treatment works
+126.61m
River Loxley - Groyne constructed from onsite rubble and stone will push river into left bank
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns allowed to crumble over time. Marginal and aquatic planting
Groyne constructed with large pieces of site rubble
AREA A
Airshafts and entrance to mines serve as underground roosts for Daubenton’s and Brown long-eared bats
Deciduous woodland containing oak, beech, ash and elm - all trees good or very good for roosting potential. Silver birch is plentiful and very good for foraging
Bioswales
Surface water, that already runs this course is channelled into tank
LAUNCH TICKETTED OUTDOOR EVENTS
1.5m high
Resurfaced path
Old Wheel weir location for fish easement
Widened decanalised river with marginal planting, such as flag iris
Resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate
C
Successional vegetation colonising low nutrient area cleared of industrial buildings. This is a wildscape for playing or relaxing in.
PLAN PROGRAMME OF TICKETTED PUBLIC OUTDOOR EVENTS
CURRENT STATUS OF RIVER The River Loxley is a Heavily Modified Water Body (HMWB) and assessed as “Moderate’ by the Environment Agency for ecological measures. A River over-widened downstream - shallow factor restricting the river’s ecological potential is WHAT DO SALMON NEED? flows leading to Dressed masonary blocks weirs. They are barriers for 2eels, brook lampray and Atlantic salmon are anadromous - moving between fresh and marine water during their life cycle. As shown deposition of coarse 0.2 m sediment creating midsalmonid species, such as salmon, in the diagram below, salmon fry hatch in freshwater and after developing in fresh water for two to four years wid brown trout and channel bar and side e Coarse grayling, to migrating upstream to spawn. They also migrate to the sea to mature. They then return to their spawning ground to spawn. The main needs of salmon channel pe sediments and osupply l s restrict natural sediment from upper reaches in their early and later freshwater phases are: 2 artificial materials 1 inreaches of water courses, to the mid and lower along channel bed • Gravel with clear interstices to allow water to flow through - ie free of silt reducing the availability of suitable spawning habitats.[7][8] • Refuges such as logs and branches and canopy • Absence of migratory barriers • Coarse boulder habitats for older fish[6] WEIR REMOVAL There are programmes driven by the EU Water Upstream, channel is over deep and channelised. Framework Directive to remove weirs or install other This has caused lack of Salmon migrate to fish passage interventions. For instance, The Don hydromorphological diversity marine waters for adult Catchment River Trust (DCRT) has a programme in - no spawning or refugia habitat development and rapid Old Wheel Weir (ARUP 2013) the Don catchment and considers the River Loxley growth and nearby River Rivelin to have best potential in the Don Catchment to be a future spawning grounds[9]. To the west of the Pennines there is programme of weir removal (6 per year) and re-naturalisation which is returning the River Dove to its pre-industrial condition[10]. There are 200 weirs in the Don Catchment, one of which is Old Wheel Weir at the heart of the site. No weir can be considered in isolation - programmes need to start downstream and move progressively up stream.
Underground sites
Attenation tank former building
CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE CYCLE HIRE THROUGH SCC NEWSLETTER AND OUTDOOR CITY
MONITOR FISH PASSAGE WORKS IN WIDER DON CATCHMENT
Rivers and streams provide canopied corridors for commuting
Buildings
Wetland woodland Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
EXPAND CYCLE HIRE INTO BUILDINGS OPPOSITE CAFE
‘Lox’ has a Germanic root meaning salmon, but the River Loxley, which flows into the River Don, is no longer inhabited by salmon, following its industrialisation. Sightings of another salmonid species, brown trout, are recorded[5].
Trees
Entrance to former clay mines
Ramp
Brick Chimney
YEAR 5
RETURNING SALMON TO THE RIVER ‘LOX’LEY
Open/parkland
Tenanted cottages Existing garage business
Bodpave cells with grass
The riverside terrace needs to be both permeable and robust enough to withstand flooding. It will have two surfaces, a recycled brick surface that uses fire bricks and building bricks already on site, and grass growing within plastic porous pavers (Bodpave).
Existing bowling club
Existing open sided shelter
HABITAT
Range of deep and shallow waterbodies provde a source of invertebrates such as caddis flies. Millpond is open with tree canopy at edges- opportunity to increase marginal/aquatic vegetation. Attenuation tanks will hold varying levels of water and aquatic vegetation
Most existing hard surfaces will be retained, including the concrete footpaths. New footpaths and resurfaced paths will be permeable and constructed of resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate.
Bioswales
Old Wheel millpond
Existing successional vegetation
YEAR 4
CONSULT WITH FRIENDS GROUP AND WIDER PUBLIC TO MEASURE SUCCESS AT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY
MATERIALS
Picnic shelter using existing open sided shelter
YEAR 3
START SMALL SCALE CYCLE HIRE FROM CAFE
VOLUNTEERS
Wetland
C’
SKILLS
INCREASING BAT POPULATIONS
Riverside terrace with steps and stepped seating - ground level reduced and earth moved to bund. Terrace to hold water in a storm event.
Shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses
DETAILED AREA B
KNOWLEDGE
The diagram above illustrates the anticipated partners in the place-keeping partnership along with their expected contributions.
DETAILED AREA A B
FINANCE
A range of skills and knowledge will be necessary to achieve this. For instance, this is a sustainable design that combines succession with responsive vegetation management. Non-traditional management and maintenance skills are required which are more likely to be found in third sector.
Paving using reclaimed bricks
Water treatment works
YEAR 2
OPEN CAFE
INTEGRATE PATHS WITHIN SITE TO EXTERNAL FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS ETC, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PUBLICITY THROUGH SCC AND OUTDOOR CITY
The park will not be made the day the design is implemented. A place-keeping partnership will maintain and enhance the special qualities of the park through a long-term proactive and responsive management plan that will protect the ecological, cultural and heritage values of the site.
Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
A
£
Earthworks bund planted with birch and cherry trees
Existing classic car business
(4) The habitat creation actions detailed below will be supported by surveying and monitoring activity manpowered by volunteers and led by third sector groups such as Don River Catchment Trust.
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE SURVEYS
OVERSIGHT
Parking
B’
(3) There is plenty of scope to introduce management activities to the woodlands on site, in order to create a variety of form, introduce different species and ground cover, and to improve habitats. Under the guidance of the Woodland Trust, volunteers will engage in management activities such as coppicing.
TOURS OF THE PARK BY FRIENDS GROUP DIFFERENT THEMES - HERITAGE, WATER, BIODIVERSITY
£
Vegetative succession has taken hold on many parts of the site. Derelict spaces can have a greater diversity of species compared to climactic vegetation. Wildflowers and pioneer trees have colonised areas of hardstanding. As much of this vegetation as possible is to be retained. A similar approach was applied in Schöneberger Südgelände Park, Berlin, Germany. Succession will also be encouraged in locations of newly demolished buildings.
Successional vegetation at an abandoned railyard that was left for decades and now dominates Südgelände Park, Berlin
Pioneer trees and wild flowers have colonised hardstanding on the site over the past 20 years
On site businesses
The fileclay kilns in the centre of the site will sit in an attenuation tank formed from the buildings that contained them. The kilns will be allowed to crumble of over time.
Function space
Cafe, toilets, education and visitors centre
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
SUCCESSION
• Lowering the river bank and creating a terrace to hold back water • Attenuation channels (bioswales) and tanks using existing structures and on site material • Changing river dynamics by the use of groins built using on-site materials • Large woody debris (a natural flood management strategy) from the woodlands on site[2]
Don Catchment River Trust
Woodland Trust
Open woodland
Lidar data and on site surveys have been used to understand the topography of the site. A range of strategies for river and surface water management[1] will be used on the site including:
INCOME SOURCES
Closed Woodland
The site was badly flooded in the 2007 floods and many parts are at high risk of flood, Surface water from various streams and uplands is a constant pressure on the site.
Wetland Woodland
There many buildings on site which are in various degrees of decay invoke exploration, curiosity and playfulness among visitors. Poor quality and hazardous structures will be removed, but other structures will be retained and used in the water infrastructure (precedents for this include Duisburg Nord, Emscher Park, Germany) or re-purposed into functional buildings.
WATER STRATEGY
A’
(2) The old farmhouse and adjacent former offices, which overhang the river, will be converted into a visitors and education centre. There will be space for exhibitions and meeting/classrooms. This is in addition to the toilets and cafe facility (above). The centre will be a meeting point for volunteer groups.
YEAR 1
Friends of Loxley Valley
Loxley River Park Partnership
PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPOLOGIES
The valley has a rich industrial heritage, due to the presence of industry since early C18th. The two priority elements of this heritage to conserve and enable the public to interpret are the vestiges of the mining activity on the site and the water power infrastructure. Bunker near entrance to mine entrance
Cannalised river in east of park will be widened and a terrace built to hold water during storm events
(5) The large red brick building, accessible from the eastern access road, will be converted into a shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses.
Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019
• Acknowledge and mitigate the effects of climate change using water management strategies, such as the visible attenuation of stormwater • Retain and reinforce the site’s ecological role in the green wildlife corridor running from the Peak District to Sheffield through the Loxley valley • A series of spaces, places and networks that allow the public to explore and interpret the industrial ruins of the former works • Work as much as possible with the existing, and build on the material and vegetative assets of the site
2007 flood
(4) Ticketed cultural events will be held on the terrace - music, theatre, children’s entertainment...
£
Yorkshire Water
Peak Park
0.25
(3) The industrial building behind the farmhouse will be converted into an event space which will open out on the south side onto the river.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
£
Site
(2) A cycle hire centre will be housed in sheds opposite cafe.
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Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon: adapted from Salmon & Trout Conservation, (no date). Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon [Illustration]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from https://www.salmon-trout.org/salmon/ Old Wheel Weir images: ARUP, (2013). Old Wheel Weir [digital images]. In ARUP. Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. Salmon Fry: Westcountry Rivers Trust (n.d.). Salmon fry on gravel [digital image]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from: https://wrt.org.uk/fry/ Bibliography Ball, C., Crossley, D. & Flavell, N., (2006). Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers. 2nd ed. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. Dempsey, N., Smith , H. & Burton , M., (2014). Place-Keeping: Open Space Managment in Practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Edensor, T., (2005). Industrial Ruins: Space Aesthetics and Materiality. Oxford: Berg. Forestry Commission England, (2005). Woodland management for bats. Wetherby: Forestry Commission for England and Wales. France, R.L., 2002. Handbook of water sensitive planning and design, Boca Raton, Fla. ; London: Lewis Publishers. Gilbert, O.L., (1992). The flowering of the cities : the natural flora of “urban commons”. Peterborough: English Nature. Jones, M., (1993). Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage. Revised ed. Sheffield: Sheffield City Libraries. Jorgensen & R. Keenan, (2012). Urban Wildscapes. Abingdon:Routledge. Latz, A. & Latz, P., 2001. Imaginative Landscapes out of Industrial Dereliction. In: M. Echenique & A. Saint, eds. Cities for the New Millenium. London: Spon Press, pp73-78. Lawton, J. et al., (2010). Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. s.l., DEFRA Local Government Association, (n.d.). Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities. [Online]. Local Government Association [ Viewed 13 January 2020]. Available from: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-roles-and Patrick Properties, (2019). New Homes in Loxley [Online]. Available from: https://newhomesinloxley.co.uk/ [Viewed 7 January 2020]. Shaw, J., Skinner, K., Humphreys, A. & Sewell, R., (n.d.). Instream Barriers Assessment. s.l.: Atkins.
A LANDSCAPE IN FLUX
SOURCES OF INCOME
MANAGEMENT AIMS
LOXLEY POSTINDUSTRIAL RIVER PARK
• • • •
Establish a long-term place-keeping partnership Identify and secure/create a range of sources of funding Engage with broad sections of the community, including schools Improve habitats for at least two key groups of animals with past or present connections to the valley (bats and salmonids) • Balance the conservation of heritage assets with the above aims
River Don Corridor Loxley Valley
THE VISION
A postindustrial river park that faces the challenges of the future and doesn’t simply look back. It has roles in both reinforcing Sheffield s ecological network and flood management. Time is allowed to run its course with regards to vegetative succession and the materials of the site. A long-term management strategy will allow the people of Sheffield to enjoy the park for years to come
(1) A cafe will be open inside the old farm house from day one to serve refreshments both inside and out on the river terrace.
AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR BIODIVERSITY The former fireclay mines and works are located in one of the green fingers connecting the Peak District to Sheffield. The Loxley Valley forms part of an extensive green wildlife corridor which includes the Rivelin Valley and the River Don Corridor. The latter crosses Sheffield city centre.
This site is at a crossroad. Developers are keen to turn it into a housing development understandable given the potential costs of site remediation. However, this may not be supported in terms of access or infrastructure. Left on its own, the former works will be absorbed into the landscape. An alternative solution is proposed, which relies on the site being owned by a public/private partnership.
Rivelin Valley Sheffield's Green Fingers
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DESIGN AIMS
Sheffield City Council (SCC)
£
Local Wildlife Sites
Environment Agency
(1) The park will be integrated into the Outdoor City initiative which promotes a range of physical, adventure and cultural activities. The site already attracts runners. Trails and routes will be mapped and marked and connections to the wider network will be made clear on maps and online.
Greenbelt 0.5
1
1.5
2 Kilometers
Friends of Loxley River Park
HERITAGE & POSTINDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
Remains of sluice gate mechanisim
Aquatic and marginal
The park will have a role in flood management and contribute to efforts to reduce the peak in the River Loxley and subsequently the River Don during storms. While Sheffield has increased its resi ience to floods since the 2007 floods, settlements downstream o Sheffield are still vulnerable, as we saw in Autumn 2019.
Derlict kilns, already surrounded by vegetation - site for an attenuation tank
Existing successional vegetation New successional vegetation and tree planting Deciduous woodland Ancient Woodland
Bat Conservation Trust
At Duisburg Nord, building footprints now hold water
Cycle hire
Realigned service road
Cafe, toilets and visitors centre
Access road from Loxley Lane
Redirected surface water
Attenation tank former building
WHOLE SITE MASTERPLAN
Birch trees planted on site of demolished buildings
Frame of indstrial building - allocated space for skateboarding and graffit
AREA B
SECTION A
Site boundary
Existing rubble and vegetation
All bats need suitable roosting locations (these change throughout the year depending on metabolic requirements), suitable foraging areas, and vegetative features and structures to commute between their roots and foraging grounds[3]. The plan above shows how the park already meets these three requirements.
Existing woodland Viewing platform existing concrete platform
Attenuation water tank holding surface water that has run down hill - using former building
Cafe and visitors centre in original farmhouse and former office
Water treatment works - off site Rubble , existing and new colonised by successional plants Brick Chimney
Bioswale with marginal planting +135.42m
SECTION A - ACROSS WEST OF PARK
Bioswale
New riverside terrace - used for cafe and events
River widened and decanalised - marginal planting on banks reduces surface pollutants entering river
Bund constructed using all from material moved to create terrace section does not cross at max height
New footpath
Parking spaces, including disabled spaces
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Common pipestrelle and Brown long-eared roosts have been confirmed on site in former industrial building [4]. Records show that Daubenton’s and Soprano pipestrelle bats have been spotted on site[5]. Noctule bats are a target species for the area. All bat species and their roosts are protected in the UK. A bat licence will be obtained before removing buildings or trees that have potential roosts[5]. The shaded columns indicate habitats that are found within the park. The number of suitable buildings for roosting will be reduced during the design implementation. Bat boxes will be installed on remaining buildings (facing south, south east or south west). Air shafts and the disused mines could be suitable underground roosts for Brown long-eared and Daubenton’s bats - survey to confirm
Site boundary
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Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns alllowed to crumble over time.
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VISUALISATION OF ATTENUATION TANK AT SITE OF KILNS - VIEW TOWARDS THE EAST
Site boundary
Goit
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SECTION B - ACROSS CENTRAL AREA OF PARK
THERESA DENDY STRAND: DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT TUTORS: JAMES HITCHMOUGH & THOMAS WHITE
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Mine entrance and air shaft closed for safety but signed and with interpretation board
Existing semi-mature deciduous woodland
Tenanted cottages
Millpond
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EVENT SPACE FULLY OPERATIONAL - CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE
RENOVATE RENTABLE WORKSPACE BUILDING AND START PUBLICISING WORKSPACES
OPEN RENTABLE WORKSPACES
CONTINUE TO RENT WORKSPACE AND ADVERTISE WHEN NOTICE GIVEN ON SPACES
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL PUBLIC ABOUT EVENTS AND WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN VISITORS AND EDUCATION CENTRE LAUNCH WEEKEND AND SERIES OF EVENTS ON TERRACE
OFFER FORESTRY WORKSHOPS TO PUBLIC
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BAT SURVEYS BY BAT CONSERVATION TRUST WINTER AND SUMMER - REPEAT IN YEAR 6. MAP ACTIVE AND POTENTIAL ROOSTS
UPDATE ROOST MAPS BETWEEN FULL BAT SURVEYS FOLLOW ACTIONS BELOW RE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE ROOSTS AND VEGETATIVE STRUCTURES FOR FORAGING AND COMMUTING INSTALLATION OF FISH EASEMENT AND ANCILLIARY BIO-ENGINEERING WORKS
ANADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE OF SALMON
TWICE YEARLY CLEARANCE OF DEBRIS FROM EASEMENT AND MONITORING FOR SALMONID SPECIES
FORAGING
HERITAGE CONCERNS Weirs are considered by many as cultural and heritage assets. Old Wheel Weir has industrial archaeological relevance. It is not listed, but Little Matlock Mill a short walk downstream from the site is listed and this may impact the overall DCRT programme. The listing includes the water infrastructure including the weir[11]. So there are both heritage and ecological considerations when determining the future of a weir. See below. Example of large wood debris left in the River Yeo in Devon. The is scope for further wood to be added to create a barrier during storm events.
ROOSTS
Brown long-eared bat
Pipestrelle species (Common and Soprano)
• • • • • •
Brown long-eared bat
• • •
Noctule bat
Daubentons’s bat
• •
Eggs hatch in spring. Young fish live in freshwater for up to fouryears feeding primarily on invertebrates
• • • •
• • • • •
Adult fish migrate to freshwater to spawn in autumn/winter inexcavated depressions - ‘redds’. Adult fish use up energy stores and the majority die.
REASONS TO REMOVE WEIR Restore river to preindustrial state Weirs erode over time - repair costs Increase connection along river allowing migration Potentially improve gravel deposits - improved spawning conditions for certain species • Allows lateral movement of river - extent increases and connection to flood plain improve • Creation of backwaters suitable for still water dwellling species • Weirs make it easier for predators to capture prey • • • •
REASONS TO RETAIN WEIR • Prevent removal or damage to culturally valued industrial • • • • •
heritage Risk of disturbing industrial contamination in sediment deposits upstream of weir Need to remove weirs and barriers downstream first to prevent silt building up downstream Weirs may prevent signal cray fish migrating upstrea Extent or quality of upstream habitats may be limited Potential increased flood risk - need to model remova
PRINCIPLES
SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Roosts - Woodlands are rich in old trees, in particular oak and beech, which are excellent for roosting - maintain old trees • Temperature and humidity of roosts are critical to bats • Foraging - Maintain a vegetative structure that accommodates different hunting habits, eg Brown long-eared bats glean insects from low shrubs and ground cover. Pipestrelles and Noctules benefit from edges and half open surroundings • Invertebrates - a habitat that encourages insects will support bats • Commuting - we already know that the river corridor is ideal for bat commuting.
EASEMENT
ACTIONS
OTHER ASPECTS
• Programme of bat surveys managed by the Bat Conservation Trust, firstly in the winter and then in the summe . Repeat survey every five year • Physically mark up trees that have active roosts • Create a map of these roosts and also identify and record trees that could potentially be roosts. Update these maps every two years. • Maintain a vegetation buffer around roost trees - ideally canopy cover one and half times the canopy of the tree. Map the buffer areas • Retain and plant native climbing plants - ivy and honeysuckle - for foraging and roosting • Increase ground cover in woodlands - native flowering and fruiting plants will attract invertebrate • Increase aquatic insect food supplies using marginal aquatic planting in the shallows of the millpond and the River Loxley • Plant aquatic vegetation in the large attenuation tanks • Maintain sunny openings - this maximises insects and diversity • Coppicing/thinning programme to allow light and ground cover growth in selected areas - particularly in areas of dense young birch • Retain bankside trees and replace lost trees as these provide cover for bats and create conditions for insects • Refer to roost maps before embarking on any felling • Retain deadwood in forest by selectively retaining dead trees and piling deadwood • Carry out operational risk assessments in line with protected species guidance before undertaking woodland operations.
• Carry out river habitat survey, identifying abundance or shortage of the habitats required by salmon and other salmonids. Assess substrates, refuge, vegetation cover, flow rates and dynamics. Survey for salmon and other salmonids • Use gravel fixing techniques in locations where there is unsuitable substrate, but other factors are present. • Placement of large woody debris to create pools and refuge for salmonids • Reintroduce juvenile salmon to the river and survey quarterly.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS Large wood debris (LWD) will be introduced to the river as a form of natural flood management. WD is beneficial to fish in many ways: providing shelter from fast flowing wat , shade and refuge and serve as territorial markers migratory fish. It also increases the retention of organic matter and nutrients and creates pools and channels that provide additional refuge and habitat particularly suitable for juvenile fish. There is little evidence that LWD hinders fish passage. Unlike weirs, there are usually gaps that fish can navigate [12]
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR OLD WHEEL WEIR? The solution to enable the passage of salmon and other salmonids is an easement at Old Wheel Weir. It is low cost and it should not the damage weir, which may be viewed as a heritage asset. DCRT has installed an easement on a similar scale weir in Sheffield city centre at Lady’s Bridge[13] and with the introduction of fish passes and easements salmon ow have a clear run all the way to Sheffiel [14]. If there is a wider move upstream of Sheffield to naturalise the River Loxley then heritage concerns should give way to ecological concerns and weir removal should be seriously considered on the River Loxley. A factor leading to this initial conclusion is the quality and extent of upstream habitat upstream of the weir. There is only 1300m of River Loxley between the weir and Damflask reservoir (a practically impossible barrier). Sykehouse Brook a tributary to the River Loxley may offer a suitable habitat for salmonids, but this would need to be assessed[7]. Also there are still further small weirs upstream and they need easements too. A catchment wide approach as taken by DCRT cannot be avoided. Re-profiling of the channel upstream of Old Wheel eir as per the design, may improve river morphology for spawning. There is also potential to fix gravel upstream and create refuges. Therefore ancillary bio-engineering should accompany the easement.
• Make use of the expertise of the Don Catchment Rivers Trust in specifying easement and coordinate with DCRT with regards to the wider programme • Access and risk assessments required before any easement works • Engage DCRT or River Stewardship Company to clear the easement of debris twice yearly and after storm events.
Visualisation of easement installed at Old Wheel Weir - it’s low impact both materially and aesthetically
Salmon fry on gravel substrate (Westcountry Rivers Trust no date)
Images
Prominski, M. et al., (2012). River. Space. Design: Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers. Basel: Birkhauser. The Wildlife Trusts, (2006). Managing Woody Debris in Rivers, Streams & Floodplains. s.l.: Staffordshire WildlifeTrust. [3] Gunnell, K., Grant, G. & Williams, C., (2012). Landscape and urban design for bats and biodiversity. s.l.: Bat Conservation Trust. [4] e3p, (2019). Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Storrs Bridge. Manchester: e3p. [5] NBN atlas, (n.d.). Occurrence records. [Viewed 12 May 2020] Available from: https://records.nbnatlas.org/occurrences/search [6] Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D., (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Peterborough: English Nature. [7] ARUP, (2013). Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. [8] River Restoration Centre, (2013). Weir removal, lowering and modification: A review of best practice. Bristol: The Environment Agency. [9] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (n.d.). River Loxley Fish Passage [Online]. Don Catchment River Trust. [Viewed 27 April 2020] Available from: https://dcrt.org. uk/river-loxley-fish-passage-2 [10] Sheffield Telegraph, (2016). Special Report: Getting into the flow of a very fishy rewilding project around Dovedale [Online]. Sheffield Telegraph. [Viewed 23 April 2020]. Available from: https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/special-report-getting-flow-very-fishy-rewilding-project-around-doveda 471761#gsc.tab=0 [11] Historic England, (n.d.). Little Matlock rolling mill immediately south and east of Olive Terrace [Online] . Historic England. [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019857. [12] North West Fisheries Science Center, (2015). Research finds woody debris benefits fish [Online]. North West Fisheries Science Center. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available friom: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/woody_debris/index.cfm. [13] Hayes, D., (2020). Salmon return to Sheffield for first time in 200 years - thanks to £1.4m River Don project The Star [Online]. (7 January). [Viewed 20 January 2020]. Available from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/environment/salmon-return-sheffield-first-time-200-years-thanks-ps14m-river-don-p ject-1354805 [14] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (2020). Rotherham River Revitalised [Online]. Don Catchment Rivers Trust. [Viewed 5 June 2020] Available from: https://doncatchment.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/rotherham-river-revitalised/
2007 Floods: Holmes, D., (2007). Flooding at Storrs Bridge [digital image] Derelict Kilns: tarkovsky, (2019). The Kilns [digital image]. [Viewed 15 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hepworth-refractories-storrs-bridge-works-sheffield-july-2019. 19180/ Duisburg Nord: Latz, M., (ca. 2011). Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord [digital image]. [Viewed 16 January 2020]. Available from: http://landezine.com/index. php/2011/08/post-industrial-landscape-architecture/. Paving using reclaimed bricks :Family Gardent Trains, (n.d.). Reclaimed bricks [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://familygardentrains.com/primer/landscaping/pool2patio/pool2patio.htm Bodpave cells with grass: Ultimate One Online,(n.d.). Paver with grass [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/ bodpave-40-green-porous-pavers-30sqm-120-grids-50x50x4cm-p-864 Resin bound gravel: addagrip, no date. Resin bound gravel path [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.addagrip.co.uk/159/external-surfacing/addabound/case-studies/paths-patios-and-courtyards/jo-yeates-memorial-garden Cafe: Unknown, (n.d.) Man holding jug [digital image]. [Viewed 6 May 2020]. Available from https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-sqjqw Cycle hire: IHA holiday ads, (n.d.). Cycle hire [digital image] Concert: Junior Libby, no date. Concert [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=299412&picture=concert The Outdoor City: The Outdoor City Sheffield,(n.d.). Outdoor City Run Routes [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/blog/read/2019/01/find-your-pace-with-the-outdoor-city-run-routes-b 13 Coppicing: Woodland Trust, (2018). Practical Coppice Management [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://whittle.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ tag/coppice-management/ Volunteers: Keynsham Voice, (2015). Wildlife Trust volunteers [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Availalbe from https://www.keynshamvoice.co.uk/wildlifesurvey-to-reveal-health-of-keynsham-river Brown long-eared bat: Bat Conservation Trust, (n.d.). Brown long-eared bat. [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.bats.org.uk/ about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
[2]
Picnic shelter existing structure
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WORKS ON EVENT SPACE, MARKETING OF SPACE, PILOT EVENT, START TAKING BOOKINGS
References [1]
Existing classic car restoration and storage business
SECTION C- ACROSS EAST OF PARK
RECRUIT INITAL TEAM TO MANAGE NEW RIVERSIDE EVENT SPACE AND PLAN WORKS
SECTION C
Shared workspace for renting by new and small businesses
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RUN PROGRAMME OF REGULAR AND NEW EVENTS
In order to protect, retain and ensure a succession of roosts and to ensure the improvement of vegetative structures, ie low ground cover for Brown long-eared bats or canopy protection over water, a dedicated management bat plan will operate after the park is open:
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Improved footpath following goit
to the park are rich in old oaks and beeeches which have a very strong roosting potential
BAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
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A network of streams create wet woodlands that are a foraging ground for all four target species Ancient woodlands adjacent
The table on the right shows target bat species for the park and their foraging and roosting requirements. It is adapted from a less species specific tabl [3].
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New route
Large woody debris
New road to provide access to facilities and water treatment works
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River Loxley - Groyne constructed from onsite rubble and stone will push river into left bank
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns allowed to crumble over time. Marginal and aquatic planting
Groyne constructed with large pieces of site rubble
AREA A
Airshafts and entrance to mines serve as underground roosts for Daubenton’s and Brown long-eared bats
Deciduous woodland containing oak, beech, ash and elm - all trees good or very good for roosting potential. Silver birch is plentiful and very good for foraging
Bioswales
Surface water, that already runs this course is channelled into tank
LAUNCH TICKETTED OUTDOOR EVENTS
1.5m high
Resurfaced path
Old Wheel weir location for fish easement
Widened decanalised river with marginal planting, such as flag iris
Resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate
C
Successional vegetation colonising low nutrient area cleared of industrial buildings. This is a wildscape for playing or relaxing in.
PLAN PROGRAMME OF TICKETTED PUBLIC OUTDOOR EVENTS
CURRENT STATUS OF RIVER The River Loxley is a Heavily Modified ater Body (HMWB) and assessed as “Moderate’ by the Environment Agency for ecological measures. A River over-widened downstream - shallow factor restricting the river’s ecological potential is WHAT DO SALMON NEED? flows leading to Dressed masonary blocks weirs. They are barriers for 2eels, brook lampray and Atlantic salmon are anadromous - moving between fresh and marine water during their life cycle. As shown deposition of coarse 0.2 m sediment creating midsalmonid species, such as salmon, in the diagram below, salmon fry hatch in freshwater and after developing in fresh water for two to four years wid brown trout and channel bar and side e Coarse grayling, to migrating upstream to spawn. They also migrate to the sea to mature. They then return to their spawning ground to spawn. The main needs of salmon channel pe sediments and osupply l s restrict natural sediment from upper reaches in their early and later freshwater phases are: 2 artificial materials 1 inreaches of water courses, to the mid and lower along channel bed reducing the availability of suitable spawning • Gravel with clear interstices to allow water to flow through - ie free of sil habitats.[7][8] • Refuges such as logs and branches and canopy • Absence of migratory barriers • Coarse boulder habitats for older fis [6] WEIR REMOVAL There are programmes driven by the EU Water Upstream, channel is over deep and channelised. Framework Directive to remove weirs or install other This has caused lack of Salmon migrate to fish passage interventions. For instance, The Don hydromorphological diversity marine waters for adult Catchment River Trust (DCRT) has a programme in - no spawning or refugia habitat development and rapid Old Wheel Weir (ARUP 2013) the Don catchment and considers the River Loxley growth and nearby River Rivelin to have best potential in the Don Catchment to be a future spawning grounds[9]. To the west of the Pennines there is programme of weir removal (6 per year) and re-naturalisation which is returning the River Dove to its pre-industrial condition[10]. There are 200 weirs in the Don Catchment, one of which is Old Wheel Weir at the heart of the site. No weir can be considered in isolation - programmes need to start downstream and move progressively up stream.
Underground sites
Attenation tank former building
CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE CYCLE HIRE THROUGH SCC NEWSLETTER AND OUTDOOR CITY
MONITOR FISH PASSAGE WORKS IN WIDER DON CATCHMENT
Rivers and streams provide canopied corridors for commuting
Buildings
Wetland woodland Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
EXPAND CYCLE HIRE INTO BUILDINGS OPPOSITE CAFE
‘Lox’ has a Germanic root meaning salmon, but the River Loxley, which flows into the River Don, is no longer inhabited by salmon, following its industrialisation. Sightings of another salmonid species, brown trout, are recorded[5].
Trees
Entrance to former clay mines
Ramp
Brick Chimney
YEAR 5
RETURNING SALMON TO THE RIVER ‘LOX’LEY
Open/parkland
Tenanted cottages Existing garage business
Bodpave cells with grass
The riverside terrace needs to be both permeable and robust enough to withstand flooding. It will have two surfaces, a recycled brick surface that uses fire bricks and building bricks already on site, and grass growing within plastic porous pavers (Bodpave).
Existing bowling club
Existing open sided shelter
HABITAT
Range of deep and shallow waterbodies provde a source of invertebrates such as caddis flies. Millpond is open with tree canopy at edges- opportunity to increase marginal/aquatic vegetation. Attenuation tanks will hold varying levels of water and aquatic vegetation
Most existing hard surfaces will be retained, including the concrete footpaths. New footpaths and resurfaced paths will be permeable and constructed of resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate.
Bioswales
Old Wheel millpond
Existing successional vegetation
YEAR 4
CONSULT WITH FRIENDS GROUP AND WIDER PUBLIC TO MEASURE SUCCESS AT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY
MATERIALS
Picnic shelter using existing open sided shelter
YEAR 3
START SMALL SCALE CYCLE HIRE FROM CAFE
VOLUNTEERS
Wetland
C’
SKILLS
INCREASING BAT POPULATIONS
Riverside terrace with steps and stepped seating - ground level reduced and earth moved to bund. Terrace to hold water in a storm event.
Shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses
DETAILED AREA B
KNOWLEDGE
The diagram above illustrates the anticipated partners in the place-keeping partnership along with their expected contributions.
DETAILED AREA A B
FINANCE
A range of skills and knowledge will be necessary to achieve this. For instance, this is a sustainable design that combines succession with responsive vegetation management. Non-traditional management and maintenance skills are required which are more likely to be found in third sector.
Paving using reclaimed bricks
Water treatment works
YEAR 2
OPEN CAFE
INTEGRATE PATHS WITHIN SITE TO EXTERNAL FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS ETC, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PUBLICITY THROUGH SCC AND OUTDOOR CITY
The park will not be made the day the design is implemented. A place-keeping partnership will maintain and enhance the special qualities of the park through a long-term proactive and responsive management plan that will protect the ecological, cultural and heritage values of the site.
Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
A
£
Earthworks bund planted with birch and cherry trees
Existing classic car business
(4) The habitat creation actions detailed below will be supported by surveying and monitoring activity manpowered by volunteers and led by third sector groups such as Don River Catchment Trust.
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE SURVEYS
OVERSIGHT
Parking
B’
(3) There is plenty of scope to introduce management activities to the woodlands on site, in order to create a variety of form, introduce different species and ground cover, and to improve habitats. Under the guidance of the Woodland Trust, volunteers will engage in management activities such as coppicing.
TOURS OF THE PARK BY FRIENDS GROUP DIFFERENT THEMES - HERITAGE, WATER, BIODIVERSITY
£
Vegetative succession has taken hold on many parts of the site. Derelict spaces can have a greater diversity of species compared to climactic vegetation. Wildflowers and pioneer trees have colonised areas of hardstanding. As much of this vegetation as possible is to be retained. A similar approach was applied in Schöneberger Südgelände Park, Berlin, Germany. Succession will also be encouraged in locations of newly demolished buildings.
Successional vegetation at an abandoned railyard that was left for decades and now dominates Südgelände Park, Berlin
Pioneer trees and wild flowers have colonised hardstanding on the site over the past 20 years
On site businesses
The fileclay kilns in the centre of the site will sit in an attenuation tank formed from the buildings that contained them. The kilns will be allowed to crumble of over time.
Function space
Cafe, toilets, education and visitors centre
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
SUCCESSION
• Lowering the river bank and creating a terrace to hold back water • Attenuation channels (bioswales) and tanks using existing structures and on site material • Changing river dynamics by the use of groins built using on-site materials • Large woody debris (a natural flood management strategy from the woodlands on site[2]
Don Catchment River Trust
Woodland Trust
Open woodland
Lidar data and on site surveys have been used to understand the topography of the site. A range of strategies for river and surface water management[1] will be used on the site including:
INCOME SOURCES
Closed Woodland
The site was badly flooded in the 2007 floods and many parts are at high risk of flood, Surface water from various streams and uplands is a constant pressure on the site.
Wetland Woodland
There many buildings on site which are in various degrees of decay invoke exploration, curiosity and playfulness among visitors. Poor quality and hazardous structures will be removed, but other structures will be retained and used in the water infrastructure (precedents for this include Duisburg Nord, Emscher Park, Germany) or re-purposed into functional buildings.
WATER STRATEGY
A’
(2) The old farmhouse and adjacent former offices, which overhang the rive , will be converted into a visitors and education centre. There will be space for exhibitions and meeting/classrooms. This is in addition to the toilets and cafe facility (above). The centre will be a meeting point for volunteer groups.
YEAR 1
Friends of Loxley Valley
Loxley River Park Partnership
PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPOLOGIES
The valley has a rich industrial heritage, due to the presence of industry since early C18th. The two priority elements of this heritage to conserve and enable the public to interpret are the vestiges of the mining activity on the site and the water power infrastructure. Bunker near entrance to mine entrance
Cannalised river in east of park will be widened and a terrace built to hold water during storm events
(5) The large red brick building, accessible from the eastern access road, will be converted into a shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses.
Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019
• Acknowledge and mitigate the effects of climate change using water management strategies, such as the visible attenuation of stormwater • Retain and reinforce the site’s ecological role in the green wildlife corridor running from the Peak District to Sheffield through the Loxley valle • A series of spaces, places and networks that allow the public to explore and interpret the industrial ruins of the former works • Work as much as possible with the existing, and build on the material and vegetative assets of the site
2007 floo
(4) Ticketed cultural events will be held on the terrace - music, theatre, children’s entertainment...
£
Yorkshire Water
Peak Park
0.25
(3) The industrial building behind the farmhouse will be converted into an event space which will open out on the south side onto the river.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
£
Site
(2) A cycle hire centre will be housed in sheds opposite cafe.
+113.39m
+115.14m
Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon: adapted from Salmon & Trout Conservation, (no date). Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon [Illustration]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from https://www.salmon-trout.org/salmon/ Old Wheel Weir images: ARUP, (2013). Old Wheel Weir [digital images]. In ARUP. Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. Salmon Fry: Westcountry Rivers Trust (n.d.). Salmon fry on gravel [digital image]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from: https://wrt.org.uk/fry/ Bibliography Ball, C., Crossley, D. & Flavell, N., (2006). Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers. 2nd ed. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. Dempsey, N., Smith , H. & Burton , M., (2014). Place-Keeping: Open Space Managment in Practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Edensor, T., (2005). Industrial Ruins: Space Aesthetics and Materiality. Oxford: Berg. Forestry Commission England, (2005). Woodland management for bats. Wetherby: Forestry Commission for England and Wales. France, R.L., 2002. Handbook of water sensitive planning and design, Boca Raton, Fla. ; London: Lewis Publishers. Gilbert, O.L., (1992). The flowering of the cities : the natural flora of “urban commons”. Peterborough: English Nature. Jones, M., (1993). Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage. Revised ed. Sheffield: Sheffield City Librarie Jorgensen & R. Keenan, (2012). Urban Wildscapes. Abingdon:Routledge. Latz, A. & Latz, P., 2001. Imaginative Landscapes out of Industrial Dereliction. In: M. Echenique & A. Saint, eds. Cities for the New Millenium. London: Spon Press, pp73-78. Lawton, J. et al., (2010). Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. s.l., DEFRA Local Government Association, (n.d.). Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities. [Online]. Local Government Association [ Viewed 13 January 2020]. Available from: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-rolesPatrick Properties, (2019). New Homes in Loxley [Online]. Available from: https://newhomesinloxley.co.uk/ [Viewed 7 January 2020]. Shaw, J., Skinner, K., Humphreys, A. & Sewell, R., (n.d.). Instream Barriers Assessment. s.l.: Atkins.
A LANDSCAPE IN FLUX
SOURCES OF INCOME
MANAGEMENT AIMS
LOXLEY POSTINDUSTRIAL RIVER PARK
• • • •
Establish a long-term place-keeping partnership Identify and secure/create a range of sources of funding Engage with broad sections of the community, including schools Improve habitats for at least two key groups of animals with past or present connections to the valley (bats and salmonids) • Balance the conservation of heritage assets with the above aims
River Don Corridor Loxley Valley
THE VISION
A postindustrial river park that faces the challenges of the future and doesn’t simply look back. It has roles in both reinforcing Sheffield s ecological network and flood management. Time is allowed to run its course with regards to vegetative succession and the materials of the site. A long-term management strategy will allow the people of Sheffield to enjoy the park for years to come
(1) A cafe will be open inside the old farm house from day one to serve refreshments both inside and out on the river terrace.
AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR BIODIVERSITY The former fireclay mines and works are located in one of the green fingers connecting the Peak District to Sheffield. The Loxley Valley forms part of an extensive green wildlife corridor which includes the Rivelin Valley and the River Don Corridor. The latter crosses Sheffield city centre.
This site is at a crossroad. Developers are keen to turn it into a housing development understandable given the potential costs of site remediation. However, this may not be supported in terms of access or infrastructure. Left on its own, the former works will be absorbed into the landscape. An alternative solution is proposed, which relies on the site being owned by a public/private partnership.
Rivelin Valley Sheffield's Green Fingers
¯ 0
DESIGN AIMS
Sheffield City Council (SCC)
£
Local Wildlife Sites
Environment Agency
(1) The park will be integrated into the Outdoor City initiative which promotes a range of physical, adventure and cultural activities. The site already attracts runners. Trails and routes will be mapped and marked and connections to the wider network will be made clear on maps and online.
Greenbelt 0.5
1
1.5
2 Kilometers
Friends of Loxley River Park
HERITAGE & POSTINDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
Remains of sluice gate mechanisim
Aquatic and marginal
The park will have a role in flood management and contribute to efforts to reduce the peak in the River Loxley and subsequently the River Don during storms. While Sheffield has increased its resi ience to floods since the 2007 floods, settlements downstream o Sheffield are still vulnerable, as we saw in Autumn 2019.
Derlict kilns, already surrounded by vegetation - site for an attenuation tank
Existing successional vegetation New successional vegetation and tree planting Deciduous woodland Ancient Woodland
Bat Conservation Trust
At Duisburg Nord, building footprints now hold water
Cycle hire
Realigned service road
Cafe, toilets and visitors centre
Access road from Loxley Lane
Redirected surface water
Attenation tank former building
WHOLE SITE MASTERPLAN
Birch trees planted on site of demolished buildings
Frame of indstrial building - allocated space for skateboarding and graffit
AREA B
SECTION A
Site boundary
Existing rubble and vegetation
All bats need suitable roosting locations (these change throughout the year depending on metabolic requirements), suitable foraging areas, and vegetative features and structures to commute between their roots and foraging grounds[3]. The plan above shows how the park already meets these three requirements.
Existing woodland Viewing platform existing concrete platform
Attenuation water tank holding surface water that has run down hill - using former building
Cafe and visitors centre in original farmhouse and former office
Water treatment works - off site Rubble , existing and new colonised by successional plants Brick Chimney
Bioswale with marginal planting +135.42m
SECTION A - ACROSS WEST OF PARK
Bioswale
New riverside terrace - used for cafe and events
River widened and decanalised - marginal planting on banks reduces surface pollutants entering river
Bund constructed using all from material moved to create terrace section does not cross at max height
New footpath
Parking spaces, including disabled spaces
+121.3m
Common pipestrelle and Brown long-eared roosts have been confirmed on site in former industrial building [4]. Records show that Daubenton’s and Soprano pipestrelle bats have been spotted on site[5]. Noctule bats are a target species for the area. All bat species and their roosts are protected in the UK. A bat licence will be obtained before removing buildings or trees that have potential roosts[5]. The shaded columns indicate habitats that are found within the park. The number of suitable buildings for roosting will be reduced during the design implementation. Bat boxes will be installed on remaining buildings (facing south, south east or south west). Air shafts and the disused mines could be suitable underground roosts for Brown long-eared and Daubenton’s bats - survey to confirm
Site boundary
+118.13m
+117.98m
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns alllowed to crumble over time.
+117.01m
VISUALISATION OF ATTENUATION TANK AT SITE OF KILNS - VIEW TOWARDS THE EAST
Site boundary
Goit
+118.00m +115.69m
+116.36m
+115.54m +113.73m
+113.07m
SECTION B - ACROSS CENTRAL AREA OF PARK
THERESA DENDY STRAND: DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT TUTORS: JAMES HITCHMOUGH & THOMAS WHITE
+154.81m
Mine entrance and air shaft closed for safety but signed and with interpretation board
Existing semi-mature deciduous woodland
Tenanted cottages
Millpond
+123.24m
+113.16m
EVENT SPACE FULLY OPERATIONAL - CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE
RENOVATE RENTABLE WORKSPACE BUILDING AND START PUBLICISING WORKSPACES
OPEN RENTABLE WORKSPACES
CONTINUE TO RENT WORKSPACE AND ADVERTISE WHEN NOTICE GIVEN ON SPACES
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL PUBLIC ABOUT EVENTS AND WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN VISITORS AND EDUCATION CENTRE LAUNCH WEEKEND AND SERIES OF EVENTS ON TERRACE
OFFER FORESTRY WORKSHOPS TO PUBLIC
+113.11m
BAT SURVEYS BY BAT CONSERVATION TRUST WINTER AND SUMMER - REPEAT IN YEAR 6. MAP ACTIVE AND POTENTIAL ROOSTS
UPDATE ROOST MAPS BETWEEN FULL BAT SURVEYS FOLLOW ACTIONS BELOW RE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE ROOSTS AND VEGETATIVE STRUCTURES FOR FORAGING AND COMMUTING INSTALLATION OF FISH EASEMENT AND ANCILLIARY BIO-ENGINEERING WORKS
ANADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE OF SALMON
TWICE YEARLY CLEARANCE OF DEBRIS FROM EASEMENT AND MONITORING FOR SALMONID SPECIES
FORAGING
HERITAGE CONCERNS Weirs are considered by many as cultural and heritage assets. Old Wheel Weir has industrial archaeological relevance. It is not listed, but Little Matlock Mill a short walk downstream from the site is listed and this may impact the overall DCRT programme. The listing includes the water infrastructure including the weir[11]. So there are both heritage and ecological considerations when determining the future of a weir. See below. Example of large wood debris left in the River Yeo in Devon. The is scope for further wood to be added to create a barrier during storm events.
ROOSTS
Brown long-eared bat
Pipestrelle species (Common and Soprano)
• • • • • •
Brown long-eared bat
• • •
Noctule bat
Daubentons’s bat
• •
Eggs hatch in spring. Young fish live in freshwater for up to fouryears feeding primarily on invertebrates
• • • •
• • • • •
Adult fish migrate to freshwater to spawn in autumn/winter inexcavated depressions - ‘redds’. Adult fish use up energy stores and the majority die.
REASONS TO REMOVE WEIR Restore river to preindustrial state Weirs erode over time - repair costs Increase connection along river allowing migration Potentially improve gravel deposits - improved spawning conditions for certain species • Allows lateral movement of river - extent increases and connection to flood plain improve • Creation of backwaters suitable for still water dwellling species • Weirs make it easier for predators to capture prey • • • •
REASONS TO RETAIN WEIR • Prevent removal or damage to culturally valued industrial • • • • •
heritage Risk of disturbing industrial contamination in sediment deposits upstream of weir Need to remove weirs and barriers downstream first to prevent silt building up downstream Weirs may prevent signal cray fish migrating upstrea Extent or quality of upstream habitats may be limited Potential increased flood risk - need to model remova
PRINCIPLES
SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Roosts - Woodlands are rich in old trees, in particular oak and beech, which are excellent for roosting - maintain old trees • Temperature and humidity of roosts are critical to bats • Foraging - Maintain a vegetative structure that accommodates different hunting habits, eg Brown long-eared bats glean insects from low shrubs and ground cover. Pipestrelles and Noctules benefit from edges and half open surroundings • Invertebrates - a habitat that encourages insects will support bats • Commuting - we already know that the river corridor is ideal for bat commuting.
EASEMENT
ACTIONS
OTHER ASPECTS
• Programme of bat surveys managed by the Bat Conservation Trust, firstly in the winter and then in the summe . Repeat survey every five year • Physically mark up trees that have active roosts • Create a map of these roosts and also identify and record trees that could potentially be roosts. Update these maps every two years. • Maintain a vegetation buffer around roost trees - ideally canopy cover one and half times the canopy of the tree. Map the buffer areas • Retain and plant native climbing plants - ivy and honeysuckle - for foraging and roosting • Increase ground cover in woodlands - native flowering and fruiting plants will attract invertebrate • Increase aquatic insect food supplies using marginal aquatic planting in the shallows of the millpond and the River Loxley • Plant aquatic vegetation in the large attenuation tanks • Maintain sunny openings - this maximises insects and diversity • Coppicing/thinning programme to allow light and ground cover growth in selected areas - particularly in areas of dense young birch • Retain bankside trees and replace lost trees as these provide cover for bats and create conditions for insects • Refer to roost maps before embarking on any felling • Retain deadwood in forest by selectively retaining dead trees and piling deadwood • Carry out operational risk assessments in line with protected species guidance before undertaking woodland operations.
• Carry out river habitat survey, identifying abundance or shortage of the habitats required by salmon and other salmonids. Assess substrates, refuge, vegetation cover, flow rates and dynamics. Survey for salmon and other salmonids • Use gravel fixing techniques in locations where there is unsuitable substrate, but other factors are present. • Placement of large woody debris to create pools and refuge for salmonids • Reintroduce juvenile salmon to the river and survey quarterly.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS Large wood debris (LWD) will be introduced to the river as a form of natural flood management. WD is beneficial to fish in many ways: providing shelter from fast flowing wat , shade and refuge and serve as territorial markers migratory fish. It also increases the retention of organic matter and nutrients and creates pools and channels that provide additional refuge and habitat particularly suitable for juvenile fish. There is little evidence that LWD hinders fish passage. Unlike weirs, there are usually gaps that fish can navigate [12]
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR OLD WHEEL WEIR? The solution to enable the passage of salmon and other salmonids is an easement at Old Wheel Weir. It is low cost and it should not the damage weir, which may be viewed as a heritage asset. DCRT has installed an easement on a similar scale weir in Sheffield city centre at Lady’s Bridge[13] and with the introduction of fish passes and easements salmon ow have a clear run all the way to Sheffiel [14]. If there is a wider move upstream of Sheffield to naturalise the River Loxley then heritage concerns should give way to ecological concerns and weir removal should be seriously considered on the River Loxley. A factor leading to this initial conclusion is the quality and extent of upstream habitat upstream of the weir. There is only 1300m of River Loxley between the weir and Damflask reservoir (a practically impossible barrier). Sykehouse Brook a tributary to the River Loxley may offer a suitable habitat for salmonids, but this would need to be assessed[7]. Also there are still further small weirs upstream and they need easements too. A catchment wide approach as taken by DCRT cannot be avoided. Re-profiling of the channel upstream of Old Wheel eir as per the design, may improve river morphology for spawning. There is also potential to fix gravel upstream and create refuges. Therefore ancillary bio-engineering should accompany the easement.
• Make use of the expertise of the Don Catchment Rivers Trust in specifying easement and coordinate with DCRT with regards to the wider programme • Access and risk assessments required before any easement works • Engage DCRT or River Stewardship Company to clear the easement of debris twice yearly and after storm events.
Visualisation of easement installed at Old Wheel Weir - it’s low impact both materially and aesthetically
Salmon fry on gravel substrate (Westcountry Rivers Trust no date)
Images
Prominski, M. et al., (2012). River. Space. Design: Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers. Basel: Birkhauser. The Wildlife Trusts, (2006). Managing Woody Debris in Rivers, Streams & Floodplains. s.l.: Staffordshire WildlifeTrust. [3] Gunnell, K., Grant, G. & Williams, C., (2012). Landscape and urban design for bats and biodiversity. s.l.: Bat Conservation Trust. [4] e3p, (2019). Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Storrs Bridge. Manchester: e3p. [5] NBN atlas, (n.d.). Occurrence records. [Viewed 12 May 2020] Available from: https://records.nbnatlas.org/occurrences/search [6] Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D., (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Peterborough: English Nature. [7] ARUP, (2013). Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. [8] River Restoration Centre, (2013). Weir removal, lowering and modification: A review of best practice. Bristol: The Environment Agency. [9] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (n.d.). River Loxley Fish Passage [Online]. Don Catchment River Trust. [Viewed 27 April 2020] Available from: https://dcrt.org. uk/river-loxley-fish-passage-2 [10] Sheffield Telegraph, (2016). Special Report: Getting into the flow of a very fishy rewilding project around Dovedale [Online]. Sheffield Telegraph. [Viewed 23 April 2020]. Available from: https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/special-report-getting-flow-very-fishy-rewilding-project-around-doveda 471761#gsc.tab=0 [11] Historic England, (n.d.). Little Matlock rolling mill immediately south and east of Olive Terrace [Online] . Historic England. [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019857. [12] North West Fisheries Science Center, (2015). Research finds woody debris benefits fish [Online]. North West Fisheries Science Center. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available friom: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/woody_debris/index.cfm. [13] Hayes, D., (2020). Salmon return to Sheffield for first time in 200 years - thanks to £1.4m River Don project The Star [Online]. (7 January). [Viewed 20 January 2020]. Available from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/environment/salmon-return-sheffield-first-time-200-years-thanks-ps14m-river-don-p ject-1354805 [14] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (2020). Rotherham River Revitalised [Online]. Don Catchment Rivers Trust. [Viewed 5 June 2020] Available from: https://doncatchment.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/rotherham-river-revitalised/
2007 Floods: Holmes, D., (2007). Flooding at Storrs Bridge [digital image] Derelict Kilns: tarkovsky, (2019). The Kilns [digital image]. [Viewed 15 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hepworth-refractories-storrs-bridge-works-sheffield-july-2019. 19180/ Duisburg Nord: Latz, M., (ca. 2011). Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord [digital image]. [Viewed 16 January 2020]. Available from: http://landezine.com/index. php/2011/08/post-industrial-landscape-architecture/. Paving using reclaimed bricks :Family Gardent Trains, (n.d.). Reclaimed bricks [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://familygardentrains.com/primer/landscaping/pool2patio/pool2patio.htm Bodpave cells with grass: Ultimate One Online,(n.d.). Paver with grass [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/ bodpave-40-green-porous-pavers-30sqm-120-grids-50x50x4cm-p-864 Resin bound gravel: addagrip, no date. Resin bound gravel path [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.addagrip.co.uk/159/external-surfacing/addabound/case-studies/paths-patios-and-courtyards/jo-yeates-memorial-garden Cafe: Unknown, (n.d.) Man holding jug [digital image]. [Viewed 6 May 2020]. Available from https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-sqjqw Cycle hire: IHA holiday ads, (n.d.). Cycle hire [digital image] Concert: Junior Libby, no date. Concert [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=299412&picture=concert The Outdoor City: The Outdoor City Sheffield,(n.d.). Outdoor City Run Routes [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/blog/read/2019/01/find-your-pace-with-the-outdoor-city-run-routes-b 13 Coppicing: Woodland Trust, (2018). Practical Coppice Management [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://whittle.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ tag/coppice-management/ Volunteers: Keynsham Voice, (2015). Wildlife Trust volunteers [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Availalbe from https://www.keynshamvoice.co.uk/wildlifesurvey-to-reveal-health-of-keynsham-river Brown long-eared bat: Bat Conservation Trust, (n.d.). Brown long-eared bat. [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.bats.org.uk/ about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
[2]
Picnic shelter existing structure
+115.69m
WORKS ON EVENT SPACE, MARKETING OF SPACE, PILOT EVENT, START TAKING BOOKINGS
References [1]
Existing classic car restoration and storage business
SECTION C- ACROSS EAST OF PARK
RECRUIT INITAL TEAM TO MANAGE NEW RIVERSIDE EVENT SPACE AND PLAN WORKS
SECTION C
Shared workspace for renting by new and small businesses
+139.62m
RUN PROGRAMME OF REGULAR AND NEW EVENTS
In order to protect, retain and ensure a succession of roosts and to ensure the improvement of vegetative structures, ie low ground cover for Brown long-eared bats or canopy protection over water, a dedicated management bat plan will operate after the park is open:
+117.00m
Improved footpath following goit
to the park are rich in old oaks and beeeches which have a very strong roosting potential
BAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
+119.53m
+119.26m
A network of streams create wet woodlands that are a foraging ground for all four target species Ancient woodlands adjacent
The table on the right shows target bat species for the park and their foraging and roosting requirements. It is adapted from a less species specific tabl [3].
+127.51m +122.47m
New route
Large woody debris
New road to provide access to facilities and water treatment works
+126.61m
River Loxley - Groyne constructed from onsite rubble and stone will push river into left bank
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns allowed to crumble over time. Marginal and aquatic planting
Groyne constructed with large pieces of site rubble
AREA A
Airshafts and entrance to mines serve as underground roosts for Daubenton’s and Brown long-eared bats
Deciduous woodland containing oak, beech, ash and elm - all trees good or very good for roosting potential. Silver birch is plentiful and very good for foraging
Bioswales
Surface water, that already runs this course is channelled into tank
LAUNCH TICKETTED OUTDOOR EVENTS
1.5m high
Resurfaced path
Old Wheel weir location for fish easement
Widened decanalised river with marginal planting, such as flag iris
Resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate
C
Successional vegetation colonising low nutrient area cleared of industrial buildings. This is a wildscape for playing or relaxing in.
PLAN PROGRAMME OF TICKETTED PUBLIC OUTDOOR EVENTS
CURRENT STATUS OF RIVER The River Loxley is a Heavily Modified ater Body (HMWB) and assessed as “Moderate’ by the Environment Agency for ecological measures. A River over-widened downstream - shallow factor restricting the river’s ecological potential is WHAT DO SALMON NEED? flows leading to Dressed masonary blocks weirs. They are barriers for 2eels, brook lampray and Atlantic salmon are anadromous - moving between fresh and marine water during their life cycle. As shown deposition of coarse 0.2 m sediment creating midsalmonid species, such as salmon, in the diagram below, salmon fry hatch in freshwater and after developing in fresh water for two to four years wid brown trout and channel bar and side e Coarse grayling, to migrating upstream to spawn. They also migrate to the sea to mature. They then return to their spawning ground to spawn. The main needs of salmon channel pe sediments and osupply l s restrict natural sediment from upper reaches in their early and later freshwater phases are: 2 artificial materials 1 inreaches of water courses, to the mid and lower along channel bed reducing the availability of suitable spawning • Gravel with clear interstices to allow water to flow through - ie free of sil habitats.[7][8] • Refuges such as logs and branches and canopy • Absence of migratory barriers • Coarse boulder habitats for older fis [6] WEIR REMOVAL There are programmes driven by the EU Water Upstream, channel is over deep and channelised. Framework Directive to remove weirs or install other This has caused lack of Salmon migrate to fish passage interventions. For instance, The Don hydromorphological diversity marine waters for adult Catchment River Trust (DCRT) has a programme in - no spawning or refugia habitat development and rapid Old Wheel Weir (ARUP 2013) the Don catchment and considers the River Loxley growth and nearby River Rivelin to have best potential in the Don Catchment to be a future spawning grounds[9]. To the west of the Pennines there is programme of weir removal (6 per year) and re-naturalisation which is returning the River Dove to its pre-industrial condition[10]. There are 200 weirs in the Don Catchment, one of which is Old Wheel Weir at the heart of the site. No weir can be considered in isolation - programmes need to start downstream and move progressively up stream.
Underground sites
Attenation tank former building
CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE CYCLE HIRE THROUGH SCC NEWSLETTER AND OUTDOOR CITY
MONITOR FISH PASSAGE WORKS IN WIDER DON CATCHMENT
Rivers and streams provide canopied corridors for commuting
Buildings
Wetland woodland Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
EXPAND CYCLE HIRE INTO BUILDINGS OPPOSITE CAFE
‘Lox’ has a Germanic root meaning salmon, but the River Loxley, which flows into the River Don, is no longer inhabited by salmon, following its industrialisation. Sightings of another salmonid species, brown trout, are recorded[5].
Trees
Entrance to former clay mines
Ramp
Brick Chimney
YEAR 5
RETURNING SALMON TO THE RIVER ‘LOX’LEY
Open/parkland
Tenanted cottages Existing garage business
Bodpave cells with grass
The riverside terrace needs to be both permeable and robust enough to withstand flooding. It will have two surfaces, a recycled brick surface that uses fire bricks and building bricks already on site, and grass growing within plastic porous pavers (Bodpave).
Existing bowling club
Existing open sided shelter
HABITAT
Range of deep and shallow waterbodies provde a source of invertebrates such as caddis flies. Millpond is open with tree canopy at edges- opportunity to increase marginal/aquatic vegetation. Attenuation tanks will hold varying levels of water and aquatic vegetation
Most existing hard surfaces will be retained, including the concrete footpaths. New footpaths and resurfaced paths will be permeable and constructed of resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate.
Bioswales
Old Wheel millpond
Existing successional vegetation
YEAR 4
CONSULT WITH FRIENDS GROUP AND WIDER PUBLIC TO MEASURE SUCCESS AT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY
MATERIALS
Picnic shelter using existing open sided shelter
YEAR 3
START SMALL SCALE CYCLE HIRE FROM CAFE
VOLUNTEERS
Wetland
C’
SKILLS
INCREASING BAT POPULATIONS
Riverside terrace with steps and stepped seating - ground level reduced and earth moved to bund. Terrace to hold water in a storm event.
Shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses
DETAILED AREA B
KNOWLEDGE
The diagram above illustrates the anticipated partners in the place-keeping partnership along with their expected contributions.
DETAILED AREA A B
FINANCE
A range of skills and knowledge will be necessary to achieve this. For instance, this is a sustainable design that combines succession with responsive vegetation management. Non-traditional management and maintenance skills are required which are more likely to be found in third sector.
Paving using reclaimed bricks
Water treatment works
YEAR 2
OPEN CAFE
INTEGRATE PATHS WITHIN SITE TO EXTERNAL FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS ETC, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PUBLICITY THROUGH SCC AND OUTDOOR CITY
The park will not be made the day the design is implemented. A place-keeping partnership will maintain and enhance the special qualities of the park through a long-term proactive and responsive management plan that will protect the ecological, cultural and heritage values of the site.
Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
A
£
Earthworks bund planted with birch and cherry trees
Existing classic car business
(4) The habitat creation actions detailed below will be supported by surveying and monitoring activity manpowered by volunteers and led by third sector groups such as Don River Catchment Trust.
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE SURVEYS
OVERSIGHT
Parking
B’
(3) There is plenty of scope to introduce management activities to the woodlands on site, in order to create a variety of form, introduce different species and ground cover, and to improve habitats. Under the guidance of the Woodland Trust, volunteers will engage in management activities such as coppicing.
TOURS OF THE PARK BY FRIENDS GROUP DIFFERENT THEMES - HERITAGE, WATER, BIODIVERSITY
£
Vegetative succession has taken hold on many parts of the site. Derelict spaces can have a greater diversity of species compared to climactic vegetation. Wildflowers and pioneer trees have colonised areas of hardstanding. As much of this vegetation as possible is to be retained. A similar approach was applied in Schöneberger Südgelände Park, Berlin, Germany. Succession will also be encouraged in locations of newly demolished buildings.
Successional vegetation at an abandoned railyard that was left for decades and now dominates Südgelände Park, Berlin
Pioneer trees and wild flowers have colonised hardstanding on the site over the past 20 years
On site businesses
The fileclay kilns in the centre of the site will sit in an attenuation tank formed from the buildings that contained them. The kilns will be allowed to crumble of over time.
Function space
Cafe, toilets, education and visitors centre
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
SUCCESSION
• Lowering the river bank and creating a terrace to hold back water • Attenuation channels (bioswales) and tanks using existing structures and on site material • Changing river dynamics by the use of groins built using on-site materials • Large woody debris (a natural flood management strategy from the woodlands on site[2]
Don Catchment River Trust
Woodland Trust
Open woodland
Lidar data and on site surveys have been used to understand the topography of the site. A range of strategies for river and surface water management[1] will be used on the site including:
INCOME SOURCES
Closed Woodland
The site was badly flooded in the 2007 floods and many parts are at high risk of flood, Surface water from various streams and uplands is a constant pressure on the site.
Wetland Woodland
There many buildings on site which are in various degrees of decay invoke exploration, curiosity and playfulness among visitors. Poor quality and hazardous structures will be removed, but other structures will be retained and used in the water infrastructure (precedents for this include Duisburg Nord, Emscher Park, Germany) or re-purposed into functional buildings.
WATER STRATEGY
A’
(2) The old farmhouse and adjacent former offices, which overhang the rive , will be converted into a visitors and education centre. There will be space for exhibitions and meeting/classrooms. This is in addition to the toilets and cafe facility (above). The centre will be a meeting point for volunteer groups.
YEAR 1
Friends of Loxley Valley
Loxley River Park Partnership
PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPOLOGIES
The valley has a rich industrial heritage, due to the presence of industry since early C18th. The two priority elements of this heritage to conserve and enable the public to interpret are the vestiges of the mining activity on the site and the water power infrastructure. Bunker near entrance to mine entrance
Cannalised river in east of park will be widened and a terrace built to hold water during storm events
(5) The large red brick building, accessible from the eastern access road, will be converted into a shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses.
Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019
• Acknowledge and mitigate the effects of climate change using water management strategies, such as the visible attenuation of stormwater • Retain and reinforce the site’s ecological role in the green wildlife corridor running from the Peak District to Sheffield through the Loxley valle • A series of spaces, places and networks that allow the public to explore and interpret the industrial ruins of the former works • Work as much as possible with the existing, and build on the material and vegetative assets of the site
2007 floo
(4) Ticketed cultural events will be held on the terrace - music, theatre, children’s entertainment...
£
Yorkshire Water
Peak Park
0.25
(3) The industrial building behind the farmhouse will be converted into an event space which will open out on the south side onto the river.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
£
Site
(2) A cycle hire centre will be housed in sheds opposite cafe.
+113.39m
+115.14m
Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon: adapted from Salmon & Trout Conservation, (no date). Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon [Illustration]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from https://www.salmon-trout.org/salmon/ Old Wheel Weir images: ARUP, (2013). Old Wheel Weir [digital images]. In ARUP. Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. Salmon Fry: Westcountry Rivers Trust (n.d.). Salmon fry on gravel [digital image]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from: https://wrt.org.uk/fry/ Bibliography Ball, C., Crossley, D. & Flavell, N., (2006). Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers. 2nd ed. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. Dempsey, N., Smith , H. & Burton , M., (2014). Place-Keeping: Open Space Managment in Practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Edensor, T., (2005). Industrial Ruins: Space Aesthetics and Materiality. Oxford: Berg. Forestry Commission England, (2005). Woodland management for bats. Wetherby: Forestry Commission for England and Wales. France, R.L., 2002. Handbook of water sensitive planning and design, Boca Raton, Fla. ; London: Lewis Publishers. Gilbert, O.L., (1992). The flowering of the cities : the natural flora of “urban commons”. Peterborough: English Nature. Jones, M., (1993). Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage. Revised ed. Sheffield: Sheffield City Librarie Jorgensen & R. Keenan, (2012). Urban Wildscapes. Abingdon:Routledge. Latz, A. & Latz, P., 2001. Imaginative Landscapes out of Industrial Dereliction. In: M. Echenique & A. Saint, eds. Cities for the New Millenium. London: Spon Press, pp73-78. Lawton, J. et al., (2010). Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. s.l., DEFRA Local Government Association, (n.d.). Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities. [Online]. Local Government Association [ Viewed 13 January 2020]. Available from: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-rolesPatrick Properties, (2019). New Homes in Loxley [Online]. Available from: https://newhomesinloxley.co.uk/ [Viewed 7 January 2020]. Shaw, J., Skinner, K., Humphreys, A. & Sewell, R., (n.d.). Instream Barriers Assessment. s.l.: Atkins.
A LANDSCAPE IN FLUX
SOURCES OF INCOME
MANAGEMENT AIMS
LOXLEY POSTINDUSTRIAL RIVER PARK
• • • •
Establish a long-term place-keeping partnership Identify and secure/create a range of sources of funding Engage with broad sections of the community, including schools Improve habitats for at least two key groups of animals with past or present connections to the valley (bats and salmonids) • Balance the conservation of heritage assets with the above aims
River Don Corridor Loxley Valley
THE VISION
A postindustrial river park that faces the challenges of the future and doesn’t simply look back. It has roles in both reinforcing Sheffield s ecological network and flood management. Time is allowed to run its course with regards to vegetative succession and the materials of the site. A long-term management strategy will allow the people of Sheffield to enjoy the park for years to come
(1) A cafe will be open inside the old farm house from day one to serve refreshments both inside and out on the river terrace.
AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR BIODIVERSITY The former fireclay mines and works are located in one of the green fingers connecting the Peak District to Sheffield. The Loxley Valley forms part of an extensive green wildlife corridor which includes the Rivelin Valley and the River Don Corridor. The latter crosses Sheffield city centre.
This site is at a crossroad. Developers are keen to turn it into a housing development understandable given the potential costs of site remediation. However, this may not be supported in terms of access or infrastructure. Left on its own, the former works will be absorbed into the landscape. An alternative solution is proposed, which relies on the site being owned by a public/private partnership.
Rivelin Valley Sheffield's Green Fingers
¯ 0
DESIGN AIMS
Sheffield City Council (SCC)
£
Local Wildlife Sites
Environment Agency
(1) The park will be integrated into the Outdoor City initiative which promotes a range of physical, adventure and cultural activities. The site already attracts runners. Trails and routes will be mapped and marked and connections to the wider network will be made clear on maps and online.
Greenbelt 0.5
1
1.5
2 Kilometers
Remains of sluice gate mechanisim
Derlict kilns, already surrounded by vegetation - site for an attenuation tank
At Duisburg Nord, building footprints now hold water
Deciduous woodland Ancient Woodland
Bat Conservation Trust
Cycle hire
Realigned service road
Cafe, toilets and visitors centre
Access road from Loxley Lane
Redirected surface water
Attenation tank former building
WHOLE SITE MASTERPLAN
Birch trees planted on site of demolished buildings
Frame of indstrial building - allocated space for skateboarding and graffit
AREA B
SECTION A
Site boundary
Existing woodland Viewing platform existing concrete platform
Attenuation water tank holding surface water that has run down hill - using former building
Cafe and visitors centre in original farmhouse and former office
Water treatment works - off site Rubble , existing and new colonised by successional plants Brick Chimney
Bioswale with marginal planting +135.42m
SECTION A - ACROSS WEST OF PARK
Bioswale
New riverside terrace - used for cafe and events
River widened and decanalised - marginal planting on banks reduces surface pollutants entering river
Bund constructed using all from material moved to create terrace section does not cross at max height
New footpath
Parking spaces, including disabled spaces
All bats need suitable roosting locations (these change throughout the year depending on metabolic requirements), suitable foraging areas, and vegetative features and structures to commute between their roots and foraging grounds[3]. The plan above shows how the park already meets these three requirements.
+121.3m
New route
Large woody debris
Common pipestrelle and Brown long-eared roosts have been confirmed on site in former industrial building [4]. Records show that Daubenton’s and Soprano pipestrelle bats have been spotted on site[5]. Noctule bats are a target species for the area. All bat species and their roosts are protected in the UK. A bat licence will be obtained before removing buildings or trees that have potential roosts[5]. The shaded columns indicate habitats that are found within the park. The number of suitable buildings for roosting will be reduced during the design implementation. Bat boxes will be installed on remaining buildings (facing south, south east or south west). Air shafts and the disused mines could be suitable underground roosts for Brown long-eared and Daubenton’s bats - survey to confirm
Site boundary
+117.98m
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns alllowed to crumble over time.
+117.01m
VISUALISATION OF ATTENUATION TANK AT SITE OF KILNS - VIEW TOWARDS THE EAST
Site boundary
Goit
+118.00m +115.69m
+116.36m
+115.54m +113.73m
+113.07m
SECTION B - ACROSS CENTRAL AREA OF PARK
THERESA DENDY STRAND: DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT TUTORS: JAMES HITCHMOUGH & THOMAS WHITE
+154.81m
Mine entrance and air shaft closed for safety but signed and with interpretation board
Existing semi-mature deciduous woodland
Tenanted cottages
Millpond
+123.24m
+113.16m
WORKS ON EVENT SPACE, MARKETING OF SPACE, PILOT EVENT, START TAKING BOOKINGS
EVENT SPACE FULLY OPERATIONAL - CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE
RENOVATE RENTABLE WORKSPACE BUILDING AND START PUBLICISING WORKSPACES
OPEN RENTABLE WORKSPACES
CONTINUE TO RENT WORKSPACE AND ADVERTISE WHEN NOTICE GIVEN ON SPACES
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL PUBLIC ABOUT EVENTS AND WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN VISITORS AND EDUCATION CENTRE LAUNCH WEEKEND AND SERIES OF EVENTS ON TERRACE
OFFER FORESTRY WORKSHOPS TO PUBLIC
+113.11m
BAT SURVEYS BY BAT CONSERVATION TRUST WINTER AND SUMMER - REPEAT IN YEAR 6. MAP ACTIVE AND POTENTIAL ROOSTS
UPDATE ROOST MAPS BETWEEN FULL BAT SURVEYS FOLLOW ACTIONS BELOW RE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE ROOSTS AND VEGETATIVE STRUCTURES FOR FORAGING AND COMMUTING INSTALLATION OF FISH EASEMENT AND ANCILLIARY BIO-ENGINEERING WORKS
TWICE YEARLY CLEARANCE OF DEBRIS FROM EASEMENT AND MONITORING FOR SALMONID SPECIES
CURRENT STATUS OF RIVER The River Loxley is a Heavily Modified ater Body (HMWB) and assessed as “Moderate’ by the Environment Agency for ecological measures. A River over-widened downstream - shallow factor restricting the river’s ecological potential is WHAT DO SALMON NEED? flows leading to Dressed masonary blocks weirs. They are barriers for 2eels, brook lampray and Atlantic salmon are anadromous - moving between fresh and marine water during their life cycle. As shown deposition of coarse 0.2 m sediment creating midsalmonid species, such as salmon, in the diagram below, salmon fry hatch in freshwater and after developing in fresh water for two to four years wid brown trout and channel bar and side e Coarse grayling, to migrating upstream to spawn. They also migrate to the sea to mature. They then return to their spawning ground to spawn. The main needs of salmon channel pe sediments and osupply l s restrict natural sediment from upper reaches in their early and later freshwater phases are: 2 artificial materials 1 inreaches of water courses, to the mid and lower along channel bed reducing the availability of suitable spawning • Gravel with clear interstices to allow water to flow through - ie free of sil habitats.[7][8] • Refuges such as logs and branches and canopy • Absence of migratory barriers • Coarse boulder habitats for older fis [6] WEIR REMOVAL There are programmes driven by the EU Water Upstream, channel is over deep and channelised. Framework Directive to remove weirs or install other This has caused lack of Salmon migrate to fish passage interventions. For instance, The Don hydromorphological diversity marine waters for adult Catchment River Trust (DCRT) has a programme in - no spawning or refugia habitat development and rapid Old Wheel Weir (ARUP 2013) the Don catchment and considers the River Loxley growth and nearby River Rivelin to have best potential in the Don Catchment to be a future spawning grounds[9]. To the west of the Pennines there is programme of weir removal (6 per year) and re-naturalisation which is returning the River Dove to its pre-industrial condition[10]. There are 200 weirs in the Don Catchment, one of which is Old Wheel Weir at the heart of the site. No weir can be considered in isolation - programmes need to start downstream and move progressively up stream.
ANADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE OF SALMON
FORAGING
HERITAGE CONCERNS Weirs are considered by many as cultural and heritage assets. Old Wheel Weir has industrial archaeological relevance. It is not listed, but Little Matlock Mill a short walk downstream from the site is listed and this may impact the overall DCRT programme. The listing includes the water infrastructure including the weir[11]. So there are both heritage and ecological considerations when determining the future of a weir. See below. Example of large wood debris left in the River Yeo in Devon. The is scope for further wood to be added to create a barrier during storm events.
ROOSTS
Brown long-eared bat
Pipestrelle species (Common and Soprano)
• • • • • •
Brown long-eared bat
• • •
Noctule bat
Daubentons’s bat
• •
Eggs hatch in spring. Young fish live in freshwater for up to fouryears feeding primarily on invertebrates
• • • •
• • • • •
Adult fish migrate to freshwater to spawn in autumn/winter inexcavated depressions - ‘redds’. Adult fish use up energy stores and the majority die.
REASONS TO REMOVE WEIR Restore river to preindustrial state Weirs erode over time - repair costs Increase connection along river allowing migration Potentially improve gravel deposits - improved spawning conditions for certain species • Allows lateral movement of river - extent increases and connection to flood plain improve • Creation of backwaters suitable for still water dwellling species • Weirs make it easier for predators to capture prey • • • •
REASONS TO RETAIN WEIR • • • • • •
Prevent removal or damage to culturally valued industrial heritage Risk of disturbing industrial contamination in sediment deposits upstream of weir Need to remove weirs and barriers downstream first t prevent silt building up downstream Weirs may prevent signal cray fish migrating upstrea Extent or quality of upstream habitats may be limited Potential increased flood risk - need to model remova
PRINCIPLES
SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Roosts - Woodlands are rich in old trees, in particular oak and beech, which are excellent for roosting - maintain old trees • Temperature and humidity of roosts are critical to bats • Foraging - Maintain a vegetative structure that accommodates different hunting habits, eg Brown long-eared bats glean insects from low shrubs and ground cover. Pipestrelles and Noctules benefit from edges and half open surroundings • Invertebrates - a habitat that encourages insects will support bats • Commuting - we already know that the river corridor is ideal for bat commuting.
EASEMENT
ACTIONS
OTHER ASPECTS
• Programme of bat surveys managed by the Bat Conservation Trust, firstly in the winter and then in the summe . Repeat survey every five year • Physically mark up trees that have active roosts • Create a map of these roosts and also identify and record trees that could potentially be roosts. Update these maps every two years. • Maintain a vegetation buffer around roost trees - ideally canopy cover one and half times the canopy of the tree. Map the buffer areas • Retain and plant native climbing plants - ivy and honeysuckle - for foraging and roosting • Increase ground cover in woodlands - native flowering and fruiting plants will attract invertebrate • Increase aquatic insect food supplies using marginal aquatic planting in the shallows of the millpond and the River Loxley • Plant aquatic vegetation in the large attenuation tanks • Maintain sunny openings - this maximises insects and diversity • Coppicing/thinning programme to allow light and ground cover growth in selected areas - particularly in areas of dense young birch • Retain bankside trees and replace lost trees as these provide cover for bats and create conditions for insects • Refer to roost maps before embarking on any felling • Retain deadwood in forest by selectively retaining dead trees and piling deadwood • Carry out operational risk assessments in line with protected species guidance before undertaking woodland operations.
• Carry out river habitat survey, identifying abundance or shortage of the habitats required by salmon and other salmonids. Assess substrates, refuge, vegetation cover, flow rate and dynamics. Survey for salmon and other salmonids • Use gravel fixing techniques in locations where there is unsuitable substrate, but othe factors are present. • Placement of large woody debris to create pools and refuge for salmonids • Reintroduce juvenile salmon to the river and survey quarterly.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS Large wood debris (LWD) will be introduced to the river as a form of natural flood management. WD is beneficial to fish in many ways: providing shelter from fast flowing wat , shade and refuge and serve as territorial markers migratory fish. It also increases the retention of organic matter and nutrients and creates pools and channels that provide additional refuge and habitat particularly suitable for juvenile fish. There is little evidence that LWD hinders fish passage. Unlike weirs, there are usually gaps that fish can navigate [12]
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR OLD WHEEL WEIR? The solution to enable the passage of salmon and other salmonids is an easement at Old Wheel Weir. It is low cost and it should not the damage weir, which may be viewed as a heritage asset. DCRT has installed an easement on a similar scale weir in Sheffield city centre at Lady’s Bridge[13] and with the introduction of fish passes and easements salmon ow have a clear run all the way to Sheffiel [14]. If there is a wider move upstream of Sheffield to naturalise the River Loxley then heritage concerns should give way to ecological concerns and weir removal should be seriously considered on the River Loxley. A factor leading to this initial conclusion is the quality and extent of upstream habitat upstream of the weir. There is only 1300m of River Loxley between the weir and Damflask reservoir (a practically impossible barrier). Sykehouse Brook a tributary to the River Loxley may offer a suitable habitat for salmonids, but this would need to be assessed[7]. Also there are still further small weirs upstream and they need easements too. A catchment wide approach as taken by DCRT cannot be avoided. Re-profiling of the channel upstream of Old Wheel eir as per the design, may improve river morphology for spawning. There is also potential to fix gravel upstream and create refuges. Therefore ancillary bio-engineering should accompany the easement.
• Make use of the expertise of the Don Catchment Rivers Trust in specifying easement and coordinate with DCRT with regards to the wider programme • Access and risk assessments required before any easement works • Engage DCRT or River Stewardship Company to clear the easement of debris twice yearly and after storm events.
Visualisation of easement installed at Old Wheel Weir - it’s low impact both materially and aesthetically
Salmon fry on gravel substrate (Westcountry Rivers Trust no date)
Images
Prominski, M. et al., (2012). River. Space. Design: Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers. Basel: Birkhauser. The Wildlife Trusts, (2006). Managing Woody Debris in Rivers, Streams & Floodplains. s.l.: Staffordshire WildlifeTrust. [3] Gunnell, K., Grant, G. & Williams, C., (2012). Landscape and urban design for bats and biodiversity. s.l.: Bat Conservation Trust. [4] e3p, (2019). Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Storrs Bridge. Manchester: e3p. [5] NBN atlas, (n.d.). Occurrence records. [Viewed 12 May 2020] Available from: https://records.nbnatlas.org/occurrences/search [6] Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D., (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Peterborough: English Nature. [7] ARUP, (2013). Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. [8] River Restoration Centre, (2013). Weir removal, lowering and modification: A review of best practice. Bristol: The Environment Agency. [9] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (n.d.). River Loxley Fish Passage [Online]. Don Catchment River Trust. [Viewed 27 April 2020] Available from: https://dcrt.org. uk/river-loxley-fish-passage-2 [10] Sheffield Telegraph, (2016). Special Report: Getting into the flow of a very fishy rewilding project around Dovedale [Online]. Sheffield Telegraph. [Viewed 23 April 2020]. Available from: https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/special-report-getting-flow-very-fishy-rewilding-project-around-doveda 471761#gsc.tab=0 [11] Historic England, (n.d.). Little Matlock rolling mill immediately south and east of Olive Terrace [Online] . Historic England. [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019857. [12] North West Fisheries Science Center, (2015). Research finds woody debris benefits fish [Online]. North West Fisheries Science Center. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available friom: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/woody_debris/index.cfm. [13] Hayes, D., (2020). Salmon return to Sheffield for first time in 200 years - thanks to £1.4m River Don project The Star [Online]. (7 January). [Viewed 20 January 2020]. Available from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/environment/salmon-return-sheffield-first-time-200-years-thanks-ps14m-river-don-p ject-1354805 [14] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (2020). Rotherham River Revitalised [Online]. Don Catchment Rivers Trust. [Viewed 5 June 2020] Available from: https://doncatchment.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/rotherham-river-revitalised/
2007 Floods: Holmes, D., (2007). Flooding at Storrs Bridge [digital image] Derelict Kilns: tarkovsky, (2019). The Kilns [digital image]. [Viewed 15 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hepworth-refractories-storrs-bridge-works-sheffield-july-2019. 19180/ Duisburg Nord: Latz, M., (ca. 2011). Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord [digital image]. [Viewed 16 January 2020]. Available from: http://landezine.com/index. php/2011/08/post-industrial-landscape-architecture/. Paving using reclaimed bricks :Family Gardent Trains, (n.d.). Reclaimed bricks [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://familygardentrains.com/primer/landscaping/pool2patio/pool2patio.htm Bodpave cells with grass: Ultimate One Online,(n.d.). Paver with grass [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/ bodpave-40-green-porous-pavers-30sqm-120-grids-50x50x4cm-p-864 Resin bound gravel: addagrip, no date. Resin bound gravel path [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.addagrip.co.uk/159/external-surfacing/addabound/case-studies/paths-patios-and-courtyards/jo-yeates-memorial-garden Cafe: Unknown, (n.d.) Man holding jug [digital image]. [Viewed 6 May 2020]. Available from https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-sqjqw Cycle hire: IHA holiday ads, (n.d.). Cycle hire [digital image] Concert: Junior Libby, no date. Concert [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=299412&picture=concert The Outdoor City: The Outdoor City Sheffield,(n.d.). Outdoor City Run Routes [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/blog/read/2019/01/find-your-pace-with-the-outdoor-city-run-routes-b 13 Coppicing: Woodland Trust, (2018). Practical Coppice Management [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://whittle.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ tag/coppice-management/ Volunteers: Keynsham Voice, (2015). Wildlife Trust volunteers [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Availalbe from https://www.keynshamvoice.co.uk/wildlifesurvey-to-reveal-health-of-keynsham-river Brown long-eared bat: Bat Conservation Trust, (n.d.). Brown long-eared bat. [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.bats.org.uk/ about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
[2]
Picnic shelter existing structure
+115.69m
RECRUIT INITAL TEAM TO MANAGE NEW RIVERSIDE EVENT SPACE AND PLAN WORKS
References [1]
Existing classic car restoration and storage business
SECTION C- ACROSS EAST OF PARK
RUN PROGRAMME OF REGULAR AND NEW EVENTS
SECTION C
Shared workspace for renting by new and small businesses
+139.62m
LAUNCH TICKETTED OUTDOOR EVENTS
In order to protect, retain and ensure a succession of roosts and to ensure the improvement of vegetative structures, ie low ground cover for Brown long-eared bats or canopy protection over water, a dedicated management bat plan will operate after the park is open:
+117.00m
Improved footpath following goit
to the park are rich in old oaks and beeeches which have a very strong roosting potential
BAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
+119.53m
+119.26m
A network of streams create wet woodlands that are a foraging ground for all four target species Ancient woodlands adjacent
The table on the right shows target bat species for the park and their foraging and roosting requirements. It is adapted from a less species specific tabl [3].
+127.51m +122.47m
River Loxley - Groyne constructed from onsite rubble and stone will push river into left bank
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns allowed to crumble over time. Marginal and aquatic planting
New road to provide access to facilities and water treatment works
+126.61m
+118.13m
PLAN PROGRAMME OF TICKETTED PUBLIC OUTDOOR EVENTS
1.5m high
Existing rubble and vegetation
Groyne constructed with large pieces of site rubble
AREA A
Airshafts and entrance to mines serve as underground roosts for Daubenton’s and Brown long-eared bats
Deciduous woodland containing oak, beech, ash and elm - all trees good or very good for roosting potential. Silver birch is plentiful and very good for foraging
Bioswales
Surface water, that already runs this course is channelled into tank
CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE CYCLE HIRE THROUGH SCC NEWSLETTER AND OUTDOOR CITY
MONITOR FISH PASSAGE WORKS IN WIDER DON CATCHMENT
Underground sites
Resurfaced path
Old Wheel weir location for fish easement
Widened decanalised river with marginal planting, such as flag iris
Resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate
C
Successional vegetation colonising low nutrient area cleared of industrial buildings. This is a wildscape for playing or relaxing in.
HABITAT
Rivers and streams provide canopied corridors for commuting
Buildings
Attenation tank former building
EXPAND CYCLE HIRE INTO BUILDINGS OPPOSITE CAFE
‘Lox’ has a Germanic root meaning salmon, but the River Loxley, which flows into the River Don, is no longer inhabited by salmon, following its industrialisation. Sightings of another salmonid species, brown trout, are recorded[5].
Trees
Wetland woodland Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
Brick Chimney
YEAR 5
RETURNING SALMON TO THE RIVER ‘LOX’LEY
Open/parkland
Entrance to former clay mines
Ramp
Existing bowling club
Tenanted cottages Existing garage business
Bodpave cells with grass
The riverside terrace needs to be both permeable and robust enough to withstand flooding. It will have two surfaces, a recycled brick surface that uses fire bricks and building bricks already on site, and grass growing within plastic porous pavers (Bodpave).
Existing successional vegetation
YEAR 4
CONSULT WITH FRIENDS GROUP AND WIDER PUBLIC TO MEASURE SUCCESS AT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY
Range of deep and shallow waterbodies provde a source of invertebrates such as caddis flies. Millpond is open with tree canopy at edges- opportunity to increase marginal/aquatic vegetation. Attenuation tanks will hold varying levels of water and aquatic vegetation
Most existing hard surfaces will be retained, including the concrete footpaths. New footpaths and resurfaced paths will be permeable and constructed of resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate.
Bioswales
Picnic shelter using existing open sided shelter
YEAR 3
START SMALL SCALE CYCLE HIRE FROM CAFE
VOLUNTEERS
MATERIALS
Old Wheel millpond
Existing open sided shelter
SKILLS
Wetland
C’
KNOWLEDGE
INCREASING BAT POPULATIONS
Riverside terrace with steps and stepped seating - ground level reduced and earth moved to bund. Terrace to hold water in a storm event.
Shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses
DETAILED AREA B
B
£
FINANCE
The diagram above illustrates the anticipated partners in the place-keeping partnership along with their expected contributions.
DETAILED AREA A A
YEAR 2
OPEN CAFE
INTEGRATE PATHS WITHIN SITE TO EXTERNAL FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS ETC, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PUBLICITY THROUGH SCC AND OUTDOOR CITY
A range of skills and knowledge will be necessary to achieve this. For instance, this is a sustainable design that combines succession with responsive vegetation management. Non-traditional management and maintenance skills are required which are more likely to be found in third sector.
Paving using reclaimed bricks
Water treatment works
(4) The habitat creation actions detailed below will be supported by surveying and monitoring activity manpowered by volunteers and led by third sector groups such as Don River Catchment Trust.
TOURS OF THE PARK BY FRIENDS GROUP DIFFERENT THEMES - HERITAGE, WATER, BIODIVERSITY
The park will not be made the day the design is implemented. A place-keeping partnership will maintain and enhance the special qualities of the park through a long-term proactive and responsive management plan that will protect the ecological, cultural and heritage values of the site.
Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
Existing classic car business
(3) There is plenty of scope to introduce management activities to the woodlands on site, in order to create a variety of form, introduce different species and ground cover, and to improve habitats. Under the guidance of the Woodland Trust, volunteers will engage in management activities such as coppicing.
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE SURVEYS
Earthworks bund planted with birch and cherry trees
B’
On site businesses
£ OVERSIGHT
Parking
Cafe, toilets, education and visitors centre
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
Vegetative succession has taken hold on many parts of the site. Derelict spaces can have a greater diversity of species compared to climactic vegetation. Wildflowers and pioneer trees have colonised areas of hardstanding. As much of this vegetation as possible is to be retained. A similar approach was applied in Schöneberger Südgelände Park, Berlin, Germany. Succession will also be encouraged in locations of newly demolished buildings.
Successional vegetation at an abandoned railyard that was left for decades and now dominates Südgelände Park, Berlin
Pioneer trees and wild flowers have colonised hardstanding on the site over the past 20 years
Don Catchment River Trust
Woodland Trust
The fileclay kilns in the centre of the site will sit in an attenuation tank formed from the buildings that contained them. The kilns will be allowed to crumble of over time.
Function space
A’
New successional vegetation and tree planting
SUCCESSION
Lowering the river bank and creating a terrace to hold back water Attenuation channels (bioswales) and tanks using existing structures and on site material Changing river dynamics by the use of groins built using on-site materials Large woody debris (a natural flood management strategy from the woodlands on site[2]
Cannalised river in east of park will be widened and a terrace built to hold water during storm events
Existing successional vegetation
Open woodland
Lidar data and on site surveys have been used to understand the topography of the site. A range of strategies for river and surface water management[1] will be used on the site including:
Wetland Woodland
INCOME SOURCES
Closed Woodland
The site was badly flooded in the 2007 floods and many parts are at high risk of flood, Surface water from various streams and uplands is a constant pressure on the site.
•
Aquatic and marginal
There many buildings on site which are in various degrees of decay invoke exploration, curiosity and playfulness among visitors. Poor quality and hazardous structures will be removed, but other structures will be retained and used in the water infrastructure (precedents for this include Duisburg Nord, Emscher Park, Germany) or re-purposed into functional buildings.
The park will have a role in flood management and contribute to efforts to reduce the peak in the River Loxley and subsequently the River Don during storms. While Sheffield has increased its resi ience to floods since the 2007 floods, settlements downstream o Sheffield are still vulnerable, as we saw in Autumn 2019.
•
(2) The old farmhouse and adjacent former offices, which overhang the rive , will be converted into a visitors and education centre. There will be space for exhibitions and meeting/classrooms. This is in addition to the toilets and cafe facility (above). The centre will be a meeting point for volunteer groups.
YEAR 1
Friends of Loxley Valley
Loxley River Park Partnership
PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPOLOGIES
The valley has a rich industrial heritage, due to the presence of industry since early C18th. The two priority elements of this heritage to conserve and enable the public to interpret are the vestiges of the mining activity on the site and the water power infrastructure.
WATER STRATEGY
•
Friends of Loxley River Park
HERITAGE & POSTINDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
Bunker near entrance to mine entrance
•
(5) The large red brick building, accessible from the eastern access road, will be converted into a shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses.
Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019
• Acknowledge and mitigate the effects of climate change using water management strategies, such as the visible attenuation of stormwater • Retain and reinforce the site’s ecological role in the green wildlife corridor running from the Peak District to Sheffield through the Loxley valle • A series of spaces, places and networks that allow the public to explore and interpret the industrial ruins of the former works • Work as much as possible with the existing, and build on the material and vegetative assets of the site
2007 floo
(4) Ticketed cultural events will be held on the terrace - music, theatre, children’s entertainment...
£
Yorkshire Water
Peak Park
0.25
(3) The industrial building behind the farmhouse will be converted into an event space which will open out on the south side onto the river.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
£
Site
(2) A cycle hire centre will be housed in sheds opposite cafe.
+113.39m
+115.14m
Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon: adapted from Salmon & Trout Conservation, (no date). Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon [Illustration]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from https://www.salmon-trout.org/salmon/ Old Wheel Weir images: ARUP, (2013). Old Wheel Weir [digital images]. In ARUP. Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. Salmon Fry: Westcountry Rivers Trust (n.d.). Salmon fry on gravel [digital image]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from: https://wrt.org.uk/fry/ Bibliography Ball, C., Crossley, D. & Flavell, N., (2006). Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers. 2nd ed. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. Dempsey, N., Smith , H. & Burton , M., (2014). Place-Keeping: Open Space Managment in Practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Edensor, T., (2005). Industrial Ruins: Space Aesthetics and Materiality. Oxford: Berg. Forestry Commission England, (2005). Woodland management for bats. Wetherby: Forestry Commission for England and Wales. France, R.L., 2002. Handbook of water sensitive planning and design, Boca Raton, Fla. ; London: Lewis Publishers. Gilbert, O.L., (1992). The flowering of the cities : the natural flora of “urban commons”. Peterborough: English Nature. Jones, M., (1993). Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage. Revised ed. Sheffield: Sheffield City Librarie Jorgensen & R. Keenan, (2012). Urban Wildscapes. Abingdon:Routledge. Latz, A. & Latz, P., 2001. Imaginative Landscapes out of Industrial Dereliction. In: M. Echenique & A. Saint, eds. Cities for the New Millenium. London: Spon Press, pp73-78. Lawton, J. et al., (2010). Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. s.l., DEFRA Local Government Association, (n.d.). Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities. [Online]. Local Government Association [ Viewed 13 January 2020]. Available from: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-rolesPatrick Properties, (2019). New Homes in Loxley [Online]. Available from: https://newhomesinloxley.co.uk/ [Viewed 7 January 2020]. Shaw, J., Skinner, K., Humphreys, A. & Sewell, R., (n.d.). Instream Barriers Assessment. s.l.: Atkins.
A LANDSCAPE IN FLUX
SOURCES OF INCOME
MANAGEMENT AIMS
LOXLEY POSTINDUSTRIAL RIVER PARK
• • • •
Establish a long-term place-keeping partnership Identify and secure/create a range of sources of funding Engage with broad sections of the community, including schools Improve habitats for at least two key groups of animals with past or present connections to the valley (bats and salmonids) • Balance the conservation of heritage assets with the above aims
River Don Corridor Loxley Valley
THE VISION
A postindustrial river park that faces the challenges of the future and doesn’t simply look back. It has roles in both reinforcing Sheffield’s ecological network and flood management. Time is allowed to run its course with regards to vegetative succession and the materials of the site. A long-term management strategy will allow the people of Sheffield to enjoy the park for years to come.
(1) A cafe will be open inside the old farm house from day one to serve refreshments both inside and out on the river terrace.
AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR BIODIVERSITY The former fireclay mines and works are located in one of the green fingers connecting the Peak District to Sheffield. The Loxley Valley forms part of an extensive green wildlife corridor which includes the Rivelin Valley and the River Don Corridor. The latter crosses Sheffield city centre.
This site is at a crossroad. Developers are keen to turn it into a housing development understandable given the potential costs of site remediation. However, this may not be supported in terms of access or infrastructure. Left on its own, the former works will be absorbed into the landscape. An alternative solution is proposed, which relies on the site being owned by a public/private partnership.
Rivelin Valley Sheffield's Green Fingers
¯ 0
DESIGN AIMS
Sheffield City Council (SCC)
£
Local Wildlife Sites
Environment Agency
(1) The park will be integrated into the Outdoor City initiative which promotes a range of physical, adventure and cultural activities. The site already attracts runners. Trails and routes will be mapped and marked and connections to the wider network will be made clear on maps and online.
Greenbelt 0.5
1
1.5
2 Kilometers
Remains of sluice gate mechanisim
Derlict kilns, already surrounded by vegetation - site for an attenuation tank
At Duisburg Nord, building footprints now hold water
Deciduous woodland Ancient Woodland
Bat Conservation Trust
Cycle hire
Realigned service road
Cafe, toilets and visitors centre
Access road from Loxley Lane
Redirected surface water
Attenation tank former building
WHOLE SITE MASTERPLAN
Birch trees planted on site of demolished buildings
Frame of indstrial building - allocated space for skateboarding and graffiti
AREA B
SECTION A
Site boundary
Existing woodland Viewing platform existing concrete platform
Attenuation water tank holding surface water that has run down hill - using former building
Cafe and visitors centre in original farmhouse and former offices
Water treatment works - off site Rubble , existing and new colonised by successional plants Brick Chimney
Bioswale with marginal planting +135.42m
SECTION A - ACROSS WEST OF PARK
Bioswale
New riverside terrace - used for cafe and events
River widened and decanalised - marginal planting on banks reduces surface pollutants entering river
Bund constructed using all from material moved to create terrace section does not cross at max height
New footpath
Parking spaces, including disabled spaces
All bats need suitable roosting locations (these change throughout the year depending on metabolic requirements), suitable foraging areas, and vegetative features and structures to commute between their roots and foraging grounds[3]. The plan above shows how the park already meets these three requirements.
+121.3m
New route
Large woody debris
Common pipestrelle and Brown long-eared roosts have been confirmed on site in former industrial buildings[4]. Records show that Daubenton’s and Soprano pipestrelle bats have been spotted on site[5]. Noctule bats are a target species for the area. All bat species and their roosts are protected in the UK. A bat licence will be obtained before removing buildings or trees that have potential roosts[5]. The shaded columns indicate habitats that are found within the park. The number of suitable buildings for roosting will be reduced during the design implementation. Bat boxes will be installed on remaining buildings (facing south, south east or south west). Air shafts and the disused mines could be suitable underground roosts for Brown long-eared and Daubenton’s bats - survey to confirm.
Site boundary
+117.98m
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns alllowed to crumble over time.
+117.01m
VISUALISATION OF ATTENUATION TANK AT SITE OF KILNS - VIEW TOWARDS THE EAST
Site boundary
Goit
+118.00m +115.69m
+116.36m
+115.54m +113.73m
+113.07m
SECTION B - ACROSS CENTRAL AREA OF PARK
THERESA DENDY STRAND: DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT TUTORS: JAMES HITCHMOUGH & THOMAS WHITE
+154.81m
Mine entrance and air shaft closed for safety but signed and with interpretation board
Existing semi-mature deciduous woodland
Tenanted cottages
Millpond
+123.24m
+113.16m
WORKS ON EVENT SPACE, MARKETING OF SPACE, PILOT EVENT, START TAKING BOOKINGS
EVENT SPACE FULLY OPERATIONAL - CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE
RENOVATE RENTABLE WORKSPACE BUILDING AND START PUBLICISING WORKSPACES
OPEN RENTABLE WORKSPACES
CONTINUE TO RENT WORKSPACE AND ADVERTISE WHEN NOTICE GIVEN ON SPACES
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL PUBLIC ABOUT EVENTS AND WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN VISITORS AND EDUCATION CENTRE LAUNCH WEEKEND AND SERIES OF EVENTS ON TERRACE
OFFER FORESTRY WORKSHOPS TO PUBLIC
+113.11m
BAT SURVEYS BY BAT CONSERVATION TRUST WINTER AND SUMMER - REPEAT IN YEAR 6. MAP ACTIVE AND POTENTIAL ROOSTS
UPDATE ROOST MAPS BETWEEN FULL BAT SURVEYS FOLLOW ACTIONS BELOW RE WOODLAND MANAGEMENT TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE ROOSTS AND VEGETATIVE STRUCTURES FOR FORAGING AND COMMUTING INSTALLATION OF FISH EASEMENT AND ANCILLIARY BIO-ENGINEERING WORKS
TWICE YEARLY CLEARANCE OF DEBRIS FROM EASEMENT AND MONITORING FOR SALMONID SPECIES
CURRENT STATUS OF RIVER The River Loxley is a Heavily Modified Water Body (HMWB) and assessed as “Moderate’ by the Environment Agency for ecological measures. A River over-widened downstream - shallow factor restricting the river’s ecological potential is WHAT DO SALMON NEED? flows leading to Dressed masonary blocks weirs. They are barriers for 2eels, brook lampray and Atlantic salmon are anadromous - moving between fresh and marine water during their life cycle. As shown deposition of coarse 0.2 m sediment creating midsalmonid species, such as salmon, in the diagram below, salmon fry hatch in freshwater and after developing in fresh water for two to four years wid brown trout and channel bar and side e Coarse grayling, to migrating upstream to spawn. They also migrate to the sea to mature. They then return to their spawning ground to spawn. The main needs of salmon channel pe sediments and osupply l s restrict natural sediment from upper reaches in their early and later freshwater phases are: 2 artificial materials 1 inreaches of water courses, to the mid and lower along channel bed reducing the availability of suitable spawning • Gravel with clear interstices to allow water to flow through - ie free of silt habitats.[7][8] • Refuges such as logs and branches and canopy • Absence of migratory barriers • Coarse boulder habitats for older fish[6] WEIR REMOVAL There are programmes driven by the EU Water Upstream, channel is over deep and channelised. Framework Directive to remove weirs or install other This has caused lack of Salmon migrate to fish passage interventions. For instance, The Don hydromorphological diversity marine waters for adult Catchment River Trust (DCRT) has a programme in - no spawning or refugia habitat development and rapid Old Wheel Weir (ARUP 2013) the Don catchment and considers the River Loxley growth and nearby River Rivelin to have best potential in the Don Catchment to be a future spawning grounds[9]. To the west of the Pennines there is programme of weir removal (6 per year) and re-naturalisation which is returning the River Dove to its pre-industrial condition[10]. There are 200 weirs in the Don Catchment, one of which is Old Wheel Weir at the heart of the site. No weir can be considered in isolation - programmes need to start downstream and move progressively up stream.
ANADROMOUS LIFE CYCLE OF SALMON
FORAGING
HERITAGE CONCERNS Weirs are considered by many as cultural and heritage assets. Old Wheel Weir has industrial archaeological relevance. It is not listed, but Little Matlock Mill a short walk downstream from the site is listed and this may impact the overall DCRT programme. The listing includes the water infrastructure including the weir[11]. So there are both heritage and ecological considerations when determining the future of a weir. See below. Example of large wood debris left in the River Yeo in Devon. The is scope for further wood to be added to create a barrier during storm events.
ROOSTS
Brown long-eared bat
Pipestrelle species (Common and Soprano)
• • • • • •
Brown long-eared bat
• • •
Noctule bat
Daubentons’s bat
• •
Eggs hatch in spring. Young fish live in freshwater for up to fouryears feeding primarily on invertebrates
• • • •
• • • • •
Adult fish migrate to freshwater to spawn in autumn/winter inexcavated depressions - ‘redds’. Adult fish use up energy stores and the majority die.
REASONS TO REMOVE WEIR Restore river to preindustrial state Weirs erode over time - repair costs Increase connection along river allowing migration Potentially improve gravel deposits - improved spawning conditions for certain species • Allows lateral movement of river - extent increases and connection to flood plain improves • Creation of backwaters suitable for still water dwellling species • Weirs make it easier for predators to capture prey • • • •
REASONS TO RETAIN WEIR • • • • • •
Prevent removal or damage to culturally valued industrial heritage Risk of disturbing industrial contamination in sediment deposits upstream of weir Need to remove weirs and barriers downstream first to prevent silt building up downstream Weirs may prevent signal cray fish migrating upstream Extent or quality of upstream habitats may be limited Potential increased flood risk - need to model removal
PRINCIPLES
SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Roosts - Woodlands are rich in old trees, in particular oak and beech, which are excellent for roosting - maintain old trees • Temperature and humidity of roosts are critical to bats • Foraging - Maintain a vegetative structure that accommodates different hunting habits, eg Brown long-eared bats glean insects from low shrubs and ground cover. Pipestrelles and Noctules benefit from edges and half open surroundings. • Invertebrates - a habitat that encourages insects will support bats • Commuting - we already know that the river corridor is ideal for bat commuting.
EASEMENT
ACTIONS
OTHER ASPECTS
• Programme of bat surveys managed by the Bat Conservation Trust, firstly in the winter and then in the summer. Repeat survey every five years • Physically mark up trees that have active roosts • Create a map of these roosts and also identify and record trees that could potentially be roosts. Update these maps every two years. • Maintain a vegetation buffer around roost trees - ideally canopy cover one and half times the canopy of the tree. Map the buffer areas • Retain and plant native climbing plants - ivy and honeysuckle - for foraging and roosting • Increase ground cover in woodlands - native flowering and fruiting plants will attract invertebrates • Increase aquatic insect food supplies using marginal aquatic planting in the shallows of the millpond and the River Loxley • Plant aquatic vegetation in the large attenuation tanks • Maintain sunny openings - this maximises insects and diversity • Coppicing/thinning programme to allow light and ground cover growth in selected areas - particularly in areas of dense young birch • Retain bankside trees and replace lost trees as these provide cover for bats and create conditions for insects • Refer to roost maps before embarking on any felling • Retain deadwood in forest by selectively retaining dead trees and piling deadwood • Carry out operational risk assessments in line with protected species guidance before undertaking woodland operations.
• Carry out river habitat survey, identifying abundance or shortage of the habitats required by salmon and other salmonids. Assess substrates, refuge, vegetation cover, flow rates and dynamics. Survey for salmon and other salmonids • Use gravel fixing techniques in locations where there is unsuitable substrate, but other factors are present. • Placement of large woody debris to create pools and refuge for salmonids • Reintroduce juvenile salmon to the river and survey quarterly.
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS Large wood debris (LWD) will be introduced to the river as a form of natural flood management. LWD is beneficial to fish in many ways: providing shelter from fast flowing water, shade and refuge and serve as territorial markers migratory fish. It also increases the retention of organic matter and nutrients and creates pools and channels that provide additional refuge and habitat particularly suitable for juvenile fish. There is little evidence that LWD hinders fish passage. Unlike weirs, there are usually gaps that fish can navigate.[12]
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR OLD WHEEL WEIR? The solution to enable the passage of salmon and other salmonids is an easement at Old Wheel Weir. It is low cost and it should not the damage weir, which may be viewed as a heritage asset. DCRT has installed an easement on a similar scale weir in Sheffield city centre at Lady’s Bridge[13] and with the introduction of fish passes and easements salmon now have a clear run all the way to Sheffield[14]. If there is a wider move upstream of Sheffield to naturalise the River Loxley then heritage concerns should give way to ecological concerns and weir removal should be seriously considered on the River Loxley. A factor leading to this initial conclusion is the quality and extent of upstream habitat upstream of the weir. There is only 1300m of River Loxley between the weir and Damflask reservoir (a practically impossible barrier). Sykehouse Brook a tributary to the River Loxley may offer a suitable habitat for salmonids, but this would need to be assessed[7]. Also there are still further small weirs upstream and they need easements too. A catchment wide approach as taken by DCRT cannot be avoided. Re-profiling of the channel upstream of Old Wheel Weir as per the design, may improve river morphology for spawning. There is also potential to fix gravel upstream and create refuges. Therefore ancillary bio-engineering should accompany the easement.
• Make use of the expertise of the Don Catchment Rivers Trust in specifying easement and coordinate with DCRT with regards to the wider programme • Access and risk assessments required before any easement works • Engage DCRT or River Stewardship Company to clear the easement of debris twice yearly and after storm events.
Visualisation of easement installed at Old Wheel Weir - it’s low impact both materially and aesthetically
Salmon fry on gravel substrate (Westcountry Rivers Trust no date)
Images
Prominski, M. et al., (2012). River. Space. Design: Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers. Basel: Birkhauser. The Wildlife Trusts, (2006). Managing Woody Debris in Rivers, Streams & Floodplains. s.l.: Staffordshire WildlifeTrust. [3] Gunnell, K., Grant, G. & Williams, C., (2012). Landscape and urban design for bats and biodiversity. s.l.: Bat Conservation Trust. [4] e3p, (2019). Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Storrs Bridge. Manchester: e3p. [5] NBN atlas, (n.d.). Occurrence records. [Viewed 12 May 2020] Available from: https://records.nbnatlas.org/occurrences/search [6] Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D., (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Peterborough: English Nature. [7] ARUP, (2013). Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. [8] River Restoration Centre, (2013). Weir removal, lowering and modification: A review of best practice. Bristol: The Environment Agency. [9] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (n.d.). River Loxley Fish Passage [Online]. Don Catchment River Trust. [Viewed 27 April 2020] Available from: https://dcrt.org. uk/river-loxley-fish-passage-2. [10] Sheffield Telegraph, (2016). Special Report: Getting into the flow of a very fishy rewilding project around Dovedale [Online]. Sheffield Telegraph. [Viewed 23 April 2020]. Available from: https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/special-report-getting-flow-very-fishy-rewilding-project-around-dovedale471761#gsc.tab=0 [11] Historic England, (n.d.). Little Matlock rolling mill immediately south and east of Olive Terrace [Online] . Historic England. [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019857. [12] North West Fisheries Science Center, (2015). Research finds woody debris benefits fish [Online]. North West Fisheries Science Center. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available friom: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/woody_debris/index.cfm. [13] Hayes, D., (2020). Salmon return to Sheffield for first time in 200 years - thanks to £1.4m River Don project. The Star [Online]. (7 January). [Viewed 20 January 2020]. Available from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/environment/salmon-return-sheffield-first-time-200-years-thanks-ps14m-river-don-project-1354805 [14] Don Catchment Rivers Trust, (2020). Rotherham River Revitalised [Online]. Don Catchment Rivers Trust. [Viewed 5 June 2020] Available from: https://doncatchment.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/rotherham-river-revitalised/
2007 Floods: Holmes, D., (2007). Flooding at Storrs Bridge [digital image] Derelict Kilns: tarkovsky, (2019). The Kilns [digital image]. [Viewed 15 November 2020]. Available from: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/hepworth-refractories-storrs-bridge-works-sheffield-july-2019.119180/ Duisburg Nord: Latz, M., (ca. 2011). Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord [digital image]. [Viewed 16 January 2020]. Available from: http://landezine.com/index. php/2011/08/post-industrial-landscape-architecture/. Paving using reclaimed bricks :Family Gardent Trains, (n.d.). Reclaimed bricks [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://familygardentrains.com/primer/landscaping/pool2patio/pool2patio.htm Bodpave cells with grass: Ultimate One Online,(n.d.). Paver with grass [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/ bodpave-40-green-porous-pavers-30sqm-120-grids-50x50x4cm-p-864 Resin bound gravel: addagrip, no date. Resin bound gravel path [digital image]. [Viewed 29 May 2020]. Available from https://www.addagrip.co.uk/159/external-surfacing/addabound/case-studies/paths-patios-and-courtyards/jo-yeates-memorial-garden Cafe: Unknown, (n.d.) Man holding jug [digital image]. [Viewed 6 May 2020]. Available from https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-sqjqw Cycle hire: IHA holiday ads, (n.d.). Cycle hire [digital image] Concert: Junior Libby, no date. Concert [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=299412&picture=concert The Outdoor City: The Outdoor City Sheffield,(n.d.). Outdoor City Run Routes [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/blog/read/2019/01/find-your-pace-with-the-outdoor-city-run-routes-b113 Coppicing: Woodland Trust, (2018). Practical Coppice Management [digital image] [Viewed 6 May 2020] Available from https://whittle.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ tag/coppice-management/ Volunteers: Keynsham Voice, (2015). Wildlife Trust volunteers [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Availalbe from https://www.keynshamvoice.co.uk/wildlifesurvey-to-reveal-health-of-keynsham-river Brown long-eared bat: Bat Conservation Trust, (n.d.). Brown long-eared bat. [digital image] [Viewed 30 April 2020] Available from https://www.bats.org.uk/ about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
[2]
Picnic shelter existing structure
+115.69m
RECRUIT INITAL TEAM TO MANAGE NEW RIVERSIDE EVENT SPACE AND PLAN WORKS
References [1]
Existing classic car restoration and storage business
SECTION C- ACROSS EAST OF PARK
RUN PROGRAMME OF REGULAR AND NEW EVENTS
SECTION C
Shared workspace for renting by new and small businesses
+139.62m
LAUNCH TICKETTED OUTDOOR EVENTS
In order to protect, retain and ensure a succession of roosts and to ensure the improvement of vegetative structures, ie low ground cover for Brown long-eared bats or canopy protection over water, a dedicated management bat plan will operate after the park is open:
+117.00m
Improved footpath following goit
to the park are rich in old oaks and beeeches which have a very strong roosting potential
BAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
+119.53m
+119.26m
A network of streams create wet woodlands that are a foraging ground for all four target species Ancient woodlands adjacent
The table on the right shows target bat species for the park and their foraging and roosting requirements. It is adapted from a less species specific table[3].
+127.51m +122.47m
River Loxley - Groyne constructed from onsite rubble and stone will push river into left bank
Attenuation tank on site of former kilns. Brick kilns allowed to crumble over time. Marginal and aquatic planting
New road to provide access to facilities and water treatment works
+126.61m
+118.13m
PLAN PROGRAMME OF TICKETTED PUBLIC OUTDOOR EVENTS
1.5m high
Existing rubble and vegetation
Groyne constructed with large pieces of site rubble
AREA A
Airshafts and entrance to mines serve as underground roosts for Daubenton’s and Brown long-eared bats
Deciduous woodland containing oak, beech, ash and elm - all trees good or very good for roosting potential. Silver birch is plentiful and very good for foraging
Bioswales
Surface water, that already runs this course is channelled into tank
CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE CYCLE HIRE THROUGH SCC NEWSLETTER AND OUTDOOR CITY
MONITOR FISH PASSAGE WORKS IN WIDER DON CATCHMENT
Underground sites
Resurfaced path
Old Wheel weir location for fish easement
Widened decanalised river with marginal planting, such as flag iris
Resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate
C
Successional vegetation colonising low nutrient area cleared of industrial buildings. This is a wildscape for playing or relaxing in.
HABITAT
Rivers and streams provide canopied corridors for commuting
Buildings
Attenation tank former building
EXPAND CYCLE HIRE INTO BUILDINGS OPPOSITE CAFE
‘Lox’ has a Germanic root meaning salmon, but the River Loxley, which flows into the River Don, is no longer inhabited by salmon, following its industrialisation. Sightings of another salmonid species, brown trout, are recorded[5].
Trees
Wetland woodland Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
Brick Chimney
YEAR 5
RETURNING SALMON TO THE RIVER ‘LOX’LEY
Open/parkland
Entrance to former clay mines
Ramp
Existing bowling club
Tenanted cottages Existing garage business
Bodpave cells with grass
The riverside terrace needs to be both permeable and robust enough to withstand flooding. It will have two surfaces, a recycled brick surface that uses fire bricks and building bricks already on site, and grass growing within plastic porous pavers (Bodpave).
Existing successional vegetation
YEAR 4
CONSULT WITH FRIENDS GROUP AND WIDER PUBLIC TO MEASURE SUCCESS AT ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY
Range of deep and shallow waterbodies provde a source of invertebrates such as caddis flies. Millpond is open with tree canopy at edges- opportunity to increase marginal/aquatic vegetation. Attenuation tanks will hold varying levels of water and aquatic vegetation
Most existing hard surfaces will be retained, including the concrete footpaths. New footpaths and resurfaced paths will be permeable and constructed of resin bound gravel with recycled aggregate.
Bioswales
Picnic shelter using existing open sided shelter
YEAR 3
START SMALL SCALE CYCLE HIRE FROM CAFE
VOLUNTEERS
MATERIALS
Old Wheel millpond
Existing open sided shelter
SKILLS
Wetland
C’
KNOWLEDGE
INCREASING BAT POPULATIONS
Riverside terrace with steps and stepped seating - ground level reduced and earth moved to bund. Terrace to hold water in a storm event.
Shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses
DETAILED AREA B
B
£
FINANCE
The diagram above illustrates the anticipated partners in the place-keeping partnership along with their expected contributions.
DETAILED AREA A A
YEAR 2
OPEN CAFE
INTEGRATE PATHS WITHIN SITE TO EXTERNAL FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS ETC, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, PUBLICITY THROUGH SCC AND OUTDOOR CITY
A range of skills and knowledge will be necessary to achieve this. For instance, this is a sustainable design that combines succession with responsive vegetation management. Non-traditional management and maintenance skills are required which are more likely to be found in third sector.
Paving using reclaimed bricks
Water treatment works
(4) The habitat creation actions detailed below will be supported by surveying and monitoring activity manpowered by volunteers and led by third sector groups such as Don River Catchment Trust.
TOURS OF THE PARK BY FRIENDS GROUP DIFFERENT THEMES - HERITAGE, WATER, BIODIVERSITY
The park will not be made the day the design is implemented. A place-keeping partnership will maintain and enhance the special qualities of the park through a long-term proactive and responsive management plan that will protect the ecological, cultural and heritage values of the site.
Large woody debris will hold back water during storm events
Existing classic car business
(3) There is plenty of scope to introduce management activities to the woodlands on site, in order to create a variety of form, introduce different species and ground cover, and to improve habitats. Under the guidance of the Woodland Trust, volunteers will engage in management activities such as coppicing.
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE SURVEYS
Earthworks bund planted with birch and cherry trees
B’
On site businesses
£ OVERSIGHT
Parking
Cafe, toilets, education and visitors centre
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
Vegetative succession has taken hold on many parts of the site. Derelict spaces can have a greater diversity of species compared to climactic vegetation. Wildflowers and pioneer trees have colonised areas of hardstanding. As much of this vegetation as possible is to be retained. A similar approach was applied in Schöneberger Südgelände Park, Berlin, Germany. Succession will also be encouraged in locations of newly demolished buildings.
Successional vegetation at an abandoned railyard that was left for decades and now dominates Südgelände Park, Berlin
Pioneer trees and wild flowers have colonised hardstanding on the site over the past 20 years
Don Catchment River Trust
Woodland Trust
The fileclay kilns in the centre of the site will sit in an attenuation tank formed from the buildings that contained them. The kilns will be allowed to crumble of over time.
Function space
A’
New successional vegetation and tree planting
SUCCESSION
Lowering the river bank and creating a terrace to hold back water Attenuation channels (bioswales) and tanks using existing structures and on site material Changing river dynamics by the use of groins built using on-site materials Large woody debris (a natural flood management strategy) from the woodlands on site[2]
Cannalised river in east of park will be widened and a terrace built to hold water during storm events
Existing successional vegetation
Open woodland
Lidar data and on site surveys have been used to understand the topography of the site. A range of strategies for river and surface water management[1] will be used on the site including:
Wetland Woodland
INCOME SOURCES
Closed Woodland
The site was badly flooded in the 2007 floods and many parts are at high risk of flood, Surface water from various streams and uplands is a constant pressure on the site.
•
Aquatic and marginal
There many buildings on site which are in various degrees of decay invoke exploration, curiosity and playfulness among visitors. Poor quality and hazardous structures will be removed, but other structures will be retained and used in the water infrastructure (precedents for this include Duisburg Nord, Emscher Park, Germany) or re-purposed into functional buildings.
The park will have a role in flood management and contribute to efforts to reduce the peak in the River Loxley and subsequently the River Don during storms. While Sheffield has increased its resilience to floods since the 2007 floods, settlements downstream of Sheffield are still vulnerable, as we saw in Autumn 2019.
•
(2) The old farmhouse and adjacent former offices, which overhang the river, will be converted into a visitors and education centre. There will be space for exhibitions and meeting/classrooms. This is in addition to the toilets and cafe facility (above). The centre will be a meeting point for volunteer groups.
YEAR 1
Friends of Loxley Valley
Loxley River Park Partnership
PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPOLOGIES
The valley has a rich industrial heritage, due to the presence of industry since early C18th. The two priority elements of this heritage to conserve and enable the public to interpret are the vestiges of the mining activity on the site and the water power infrastructure.
WATER STRATEGY
•
Friends of Loxley River Park
HERITAGE & POSTINDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPES
Bunker near entrance to mine entrance
•
(5) The large red brick building, accessible from the eastern access road, will be converted into a shared workspace to be rented by small and new businesses.
Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019
• Acknowledge and mitigate the effects of climate change using water management strategies, such as the visible attenuation of stormwater • Retain and reinforce the site’s ecological role in the green wildlife corridor running from the Peak District to Sheffield through the Loxley valley • A series of spaces, places and networks that allow the public to explore and interpret the industrial ruins of the former works • Work as much as possible with the existing, and build on the material and vegetative assets of the site
2007 flood
(4) Ticketed cultural events will be held on the terrace - music, theatre, children’s entertainment...
£
Yorkshire Water
Peak Park
0.25
(3) The industrial building behind the farmhouse will be converted into an event space which will open out on the south side onto the river.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
£
Site
(2) A cycle hire centre will be housed in sheds opposite cafe.
+113.39m
+115.14m
Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon: adapted from Salmon & Trout Conservation, (no date). Life Cycle of the Atlantic Salmon [Illustration]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from https://www.salmon-trout.org/salmon/ Old Wheel Weir images: ARUP, (2013). Old Wheel Weir [digital images]. In ARUP. Don Catchment Rivers Trust: River Loxley: Fish Passage Scoping Study. Leeds: ARUP. Salmon Fry: Westcountry Rivers Trust (n.d.). Salmon fry on gravel [digital image]. [Viewed 22 May 2020]. Available from: https://wrt.org.uk/fry/ Bibliography Ball, C., Crossley, D. & Flavell, N., (2006). Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers. 2nd ed. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. Dempsey, N., Smith , H. & Burton , M., (2014). Place-Keeping: Open Space Managment in Practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Edensor, T., (2005). Industrial Ruins: Space Aesthetics and Materiality. Oxford: Berg. Forestry Commission England, (2005). Woodland management for bats. Wetherby: Forestry Commission for England and Wales. France, R.L., 2002. Handbook of water sensitive planning and design, Boca Raton, Fla. ; London: Lewis Publishers. Gilbert, O.L., (1992). The flowering of the cities : the natural flora of “urban commons”. Peterborough: English Nature. Jones, M., (1993). Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage. Revised ed. Sheffield: Sheffield City Libraries. Jorgensen & R. Keenan, (2012). Urban Wildscapes. Abingdon:Routledge. Latz, A. & Latz, P., 2001. Imaginative Landscapes out of Industrial Dereliction. In: M. Echenique & A. Saint, eds. Cities for the New Millenium. London: Spon Press, pp73-78. Lawton, J. et al., (2010). Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network. s.l., DEFRA Local Government Association, (n.d.). Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities. [Online]. Local Government Association [ Viewed 13 January 2020]. Available from: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-roles-and Patrick Properties, (2019). New Homes in Loxley [Online]. Available from: https://newhomesinloxley.co.uk/ [Viewed 7 January 2020]. Shaw, J., Skinner, K., Humphreys, A. & Sewell, R., (n.d.). Instream Barriers Assessment. s.l.: Atkins.