Mitigating Floods & Enhancing Biodiversity: The Power of SuDS & Wildflowers
Flooding is a growing concern across the UK, exacerbated by increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change. The Environment Agency (EA) estimated that in 2022-23, approximately 5.7 million properties in England alone were at risk of flooding[1]. According to the Financial Times (2024), the last few years have been the wettest since records began in 1836! The need for sustainable flood management solutions has never been more urgent.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) Wildflower Turf® offers a promising solution to this problem. Not only can they create resilient ecosystems that reduce stormwater runoff, but they also enhance biodiversity. SuDS refers to drainage systems that manage surface water that consider water quantity and quality (flooding and pollution) as well as biodiversity and amenity.
The Role of SuDS Turf & Wildflowers in Water Management
SuDs are designed to tolerate wet conditions and absorb large amounts of water. SuDS mimic natural drainage processes, allowing rainwater to infiltrate into the ground rather than flowing directly into sewers or surface water bodies. This helps to reduce the rate of stormwater runoff which can contribute to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
So how do they work?
- Soil infiltration: SuDS Wildflower Turf® contains a high number of biodiverse species, resulting in a varied root structure. This root structure physically alters the soil, allowing for better percolation and infiltration. Unlike grasses, certain wildflower species have tap roots, a key feature in infiltrating the excess water deep into the ground and away from the surface vegetation.
- Slowing the water: The use of SuDS Wildflower Turf® reduces exceedance flow by increasing resistance to the water flow with use of its dense foliage.
- Water holding capacity: SuDS Wildflower Turf®’s diverse species enhance soil microbiome, leading to improved structure and therefore water-holding capacity. Great for swale areas.
- Intercepting rainfall: Vegetation, especially trees and Green Roof Wildflower Turf®, intercept rainfall so it doesn’t reach the ground. The captured water can then be transpired through vegetation (evapotranspiration), again reducing the water entering the water course.
SuDS Wildflower Turf
To harness the power of wildflowers while addressing the environmental challenge of flooding, Wildflower Turf Ltd developed SuDS Wildflower Turf.
This innovative solution combines the beauty and ecological benefits of wildflowers with the functionality of SuDS to mitigate the risk of flooding and improve water quality. The species selected have been chosen to assist in the breakup of pan or soil compaction for maximum water dispersal, whilst remaining established in times of drought or periodic flooding. This solution remains aesthetically and environmentally pleasing, introducing improved biodiversity with very low maintenance required.
Case Studies
In 2022, Wildflower Turf Ltd played a key role in transforming the new £30 million campus at Peterborough University. The campus comprises of a series of SuDS features including over 2500m² of Wildflower SuDS turf. This project transformed a neglected area creating a beautiful and biodiverse landscape.
More recently, a team of conservationists and volunteers in Dorset worked on a project to enhance floodplain fields in Shilingstone by sowing native wildflower seeds. Countryside Regeneration Trust’s head of conservation and land management, Helena Darragh, said sowing the wildflower seeds will “ensure our floodplains function more effectively by storing water and helping to alleviate flooding downstream. The wildflowers will “reduce soil erosion, providing benefits to local communities”.
These examples demonstrate how incorporating wildflowers into floodplain management offers both environmental and community benefits.
Introducing wildflowers to Sustainable urban drainage systems offers a promising solution for addressing both biodiversity loss and climate change challenges.
SuDS and wildflowers can be integrated into urban and rural developments to enhance biodiversity and help to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events.