Last updated: October 2021
View Island in Reading is a relaxing island with natural open space with grassy paths and seating near to the weir at Caversham Lock. A conservation project has been carried out to e.g. improve water flow, improve biodiversity, and improve the entrance to and around the island. The work has been carried out in consultation with Reading Borough Council, the Environment Agency and has been designed and constructed by Riverworks Ltd. (Ref, 1, 2, 3)
View Island project
Source: Ref. 1
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Other
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems
Project objectives
The general vision is that “View Island will provide a tranquil haven for wildlife”. The overall aim (which is part of the Biodiversity Action Plan) is to protect, maintain and enlarge existing areas of reed bed; and to have created new sites to contribute to the regional patchwork. Also, to improve water flow, ensuring ease of movement around the island, enforcing by-laws about dogs and fishing and to provide a corridor between the island and the stream contributing to the objectives of the Biodiversity Action Plan. (Ref. 1, 3)
Implementation activities
To enhance this area of natural beauty trees have been pollarded to extend their life and new pathways established. Also, two new reed beds have been created using hazel faggots and pre-established coir rolls planted with native wetland plants. The stream that runs through the island had become seriously silted up and has now been cleared. A new footbridge, constructed from Oak sourced from sustainable forests, was constructed to allow people to enjoy a circular walk or cycle around the island with an exit through the pedestrian entrance by the footbridge from the Thames Path in Hills Meadow. (Ref. 1)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore native species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The work has been carried out in consultation with Reading Borough Council, the Environment Agency and has been designed and constructed by Riverworks Ltd. (Ref. 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Caversham Lock Area – Development Principles (proposals included in its appendix), and Readings biodiversity action plan which included protection, maintenance, and enlargement of existing areas of reed bed (e.g. on View Island) by 2015. (Ref. 3, 4) Also, reed beds are included in the (regional) Berkshire Habitat Action Plan for ‘Standing Open Water Habitat’. (Ref. 4))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Other
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Private sector (businesses, financial institution)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref. 1. Riverworks Ltd (n.d.) View Island - A wildlife haven. Projects. Thames Riverworks Piling Ltd. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 2. Reading Council (n.d.) View Island. Parks, outdoor facilities & open spaces. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 3. Reading Borough Council (2006) Caversham Lock Area - Development Principles 2006. Civic Centre. Reading. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 4. Reading Council (2006) The Reading Biodiversity action plan 2005-2015. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 2. Reading Council (n.d.) View Island. Parks, outdoor facilities & open spaces. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 3. Reading Borough Council (2006) Caversham Lock Area - Development Principles 2006. Civic Centre. Reading. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 4. Reading Council (2006) The Reading Biodiversity action plan 2005-2015. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.