Sustainable drainage schemes (SUDS) provide both a means of restoring habitat (see example below in the New Forest) and providing a ready source of water ideal for many habitat creation schemes.
Damaging erosion
Completed SUDS
Habitat renewed
Use water to feed new wildlife ponds and streams, wetland areas and reed beds for instance. Such habitats attract a rich source of wildlife from invertebrates at the base of the food chain right up to grass snakes, kingfishers and water voles at the top.
New habitats are best created where the appropriate conditions occur. For instance it is better to create a pond in areas of high groundwater or naturally impeded drainage rather than create artificial conditions such as by using liners.
This means understanding where water is, how it behaves from season to season and how best it may be utilised in creating new wetland habitats without adversely affecting others. For instance creating a pond in an acidic site may tap neutral groundwater resulting in creating the wrong type of wetland habitat.
