Professional Documents
Culture Documents
‘For 36km the Wey and Arun canal generally remains in its rural state
as it crosses the Surrey and West Sussex countrside. However for 2km
the route through Bramley was built on during the 20th Century, and
a significant number of residential properties and infrastructure now
block the route of the original canal.’ Wey and Arun Canal Trust
x
Site Composition
Original canal bridge
sunrise
sunset
midday
Wet corridor
October 2008 March 2009
October 2008
March 2009
Analysis - local supermarkets
Local supermarkets
Distances from the site to the supermarkets measured from The Tannery GU5 0AH
Current Current
Access Points Site Movement
Aims
Using opportunities to build upon the distinctive wet characteristic found in this area to generate more
wetlands & wet productive woodlands. New habitat creation promotes a biodiversity hotspot.
Objectives
Access:
Regenerate filled in original canal navigation with new tow/cycle paths.
Ecology:
Establishment of wet woodlands on unwooded site
Maintain through better management techniques the current area of semi-natural wet woodlands
Initiate measures intended to achieve favourable conditions of wet woodlands within SSSI/ASSIs
Promotion and protection of new ecological habitats
Sustainability:
Promoting growth & sale of local produce both on and around the site. The community will benefit
from coppiced woodland fuels, foraging and education in the use of woodland plants.
Phasing programme
A phased development program in three parts: (no alloted time schedule)
Phase 2
Phase 2: Creation of more dry swale & wetland areas at mid-east region
Focus on habitat creation with more wet woodland areas
Construction of riverside nature trail
Phase 3: Creation of more dry swale & wetland areas at far-east region
Focus on habitat creation with more wet woodland areas Phase 3
Construction of riverside nature trail
parking
The café acts as a meeting point with outdoor seating
overlooking the new branch of the canal and pedestrian bridge.
cafe
The garden area features a micro-experience of the developed Wey & Arun site seating
with a mini wetland and raised deck for children to enjoy. area
Parking spaces for visitors and staff would also be created behind the buildings.
Interventions
Connectivity
The bridge would have a recognisable visual identity and be a feature whilst
fitting in with the landscape and other interventions.
The new canal navigation extends from Cranleigh Waters (A), follow-
ing its original path under the original bridge (B).
Its linear course bears gently to the left of the viaduct (C) where it re- C
joins Cranleigh Waters. (D)
D
Toe re-inforcement & vegetative horizon
Timber post & board toe-reinforcement Composite reed bank protection using gabian basket
0.1 - 0.3m
0.6m
Timber posts
Typically 300 x 50mm
The above toe-reinforcement and horizon protection have been selected and integrated in order to create a vegetative, rural and re-inforced canal edge.
Structural spine
A structural ‘spine’ follows the length of the new canal and along the navigation,
Christo & Jean’s The Gates, Central Park
providing a visual identity to the site. NYC
Multi-purpose, the legs of each ‘vertebra’ act as toe re-inforcement for the ca-
nal bank while the concrete abutment is formed to create seating on the canal
edge.
The arm extending over the canal is fitted with small LED lights to attract insects
and moths. These lights are low voltage and would not affect nocturnal mam-
mals such as bats and owls. They are powered by small photovoltaic cellls on
the top of the spine’s ‘vertebra’.
1.5 - 2.5m
(varies)
1.5 - 2.5m Reed clumps planted in gabian basket.
(varies) Reed clumps planted in gabian basket.
0.1 - 0.3m
Title: Wey & Arun Toe Reinforcement & Horizon Protection - SUPERCEDED
Date: April 2009
Scale: 1:50
0 1 2m
Design development Inclined steel arch fitted with low
voltage blue LED light to attract
moths & insects. Powered by small
photovoltaic cells.Low voltage does not
affect bats / other nocturnal animals.
The structural spine has evolved from a rigid design to a sweeping, (varies)
Horizontal concrete abutment forming
a bench.
graceful and slim arch that fits into the landscape and follows the
natural graceful flow of canal and river. It mimics the design of the Supporting concrete toe for horizon
re-inforcement.
bridge at the Canal Trust office and café site.
Timber post attached to gabian
basket. 300 x 500mm.
The lights are powered by small photovoltaic cells situated on the
top of each of the spine’s ‘vertebra’. Steel trench sheets.
Species include: 3
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Bird cherry (Prunus padium)
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Crab apple(Malus sylvestrus) 4
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Wet woodlands
The site’s distinctive quality is its wet landscape, and since this type
of environment provides an abundance of habitats, it needs to be
created where possible and protected.
The five proposed woodlands will also provide foods and fuels to 1
the local community, adding to the self-sustaining nature of the
whole site. 2
Species include:
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Bird cherry (Prunus padium) 3
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Crab apple(Malus sylvestrus)
Wild garlic (Allium ursinium)
Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
4
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) 5
Bramble fruit (Rubus fruticosus + Rubus idaeus
Wetlands + ponds
The wetlands along the site are found within the wet woodlands and 1
are accessed from the towpath taking the visitor over raised locally
sourced wooden decks.
2
Species include:
Common bulrush (Schoenoplectus) 3
Reed Mace (Typha latifolia)
Reed Sweet Grass (Glyceria)
Yellow Irish (Yellow flag)
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 4
Bogbean (menyanthes trifolata)
Marsh mallow (Althea officinalis) 5
Swamp Milkweed (Asalepias incanarta) Raised timber pathways
Wetlands flood management system
The proposed wetlands are part of a flood management dry swale
system for this area, with dry swales on the south-west edge
collecting and attenuating floodwater through a calvert running
under the canal and river to the various wetlands. calvert
Bridle path
Width 2.8m
Dry Swale Tow/Cycle path
Width 2.8m
Wetland
Depth 0.8 - 2m (varies)
wetland
Width 2 - 2.5m
Title: Wey & Arun Drainage Cross Section showing dry swale & calvert use
Number: 2
Date: April 2009 0 1 2m Title: Wey & Arun Drainage C
Scale: 1:50
Number: 3
Date: April 2009
Scale: 1:50
2.1 Slope Permeable Gravel Calvert Title: Wey & Arun Drainage Cross Section
or flatter
soil Depth approx 300mm
Runs under canal. Flood overflow from Date: April 2009
Depth up to 1m dry swale filters into wetland Scale: 1:50 0 1 2m
Wildflower meadows
The two sunny areas along the site are well situated for wildflower
meadows. They should be cleared of invasive species (ie nettles and
brambles) and prepared in early spring. The established wildflower
meadow should be grazed throughout the year to allow desirable
species to flourish and to maintain & remove any invasive species.
2
Benefits:
Aesthetically pleasing, self-sustaining, low maintenance.
Production of different wild flowers throughout the seasons can be used as an edible food
source.
Maintenance:
Spring flowering meadows: Cut in July & for the remainder of the
summer. Leave unmown from February to July.
12
Fungi + invertebrates 7
1