Restoration, Construction and Protection of Wetlands

February 2, 2022

Wetlands are an important part of our natural ecosystem but account for only 3% of the UK’s surface area. Over the last 100 years, the UK has lost 90% of wetland habitats that are crucial to the survival of 10% of all UK species (2021 River Basin Management Plan). As a natural solution to help combat climate change, this World Wetlands Day, Envireau Water joins the call to ‘take action’ for wetlands.

Restoration

Wetland restoration requires careful planning and a detailed understanding of hydraulic interactions to achieve a beneficial result and successful solution. Within the Quarrying sector, once mineral extraction is complete, restoration plans often feature the development of wetland areas as a regulatory requirement.


To date, one of our largest projects has been the restoration of a 500-ha sand and gravel quarry site to a conservation wetland. The main challenge was to find a solution to that would provide sufficient water to sustain habitats during dry periods, whilst being able to attenuate very large volumes of water, moving at high velocities, through wetland cells during storm events.


Following our delivery of a cost-effective and technically robust model that successfully showed that the system would support the proposed wetland and not increase flood risk, planning and design were able to progress. With good management and protection, the restored wetland has the potential to make positive contributions to UK Biodiversity goals and targets.

Protection

Across the north and west of the UK in particular, blanket bog (peat wetland) is an extensive upland habitat and provides a vital form of flood resilience for lowland areas. The same habitats are also prime development areas for wind farms, which like any other development, requires careful planning to achieve the maximum benefits for society whilst protecting and, where possible, enhancing the natural environment.


For many years we have supported developers and regulators to assess the risks of windfarm developments on the natural water environment. By thoroughly understanding these sensitive shallow water environments, and how they are supported, negative impacts can be mitigated to create the minimum impact on locally and nationally important groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems (GWDTEs).


Take Action

Recognising the value of wetlands is the first step to ‘take action' this World Wetlands Day. Whether you require regulatory support to restore a wetland, design guidance for construction of something new, or a robust understanding of the natural water environment to fully consider the impacts of a development, call us on 01332 871 882 to see how we can help you with your project.

Construction

Constructed wetlands are artificially created and an increasingly important technique for effluent and wastewater treatment. These systems, often referred to as reed bed treatment systems, provide naturally occurring filtration that improve water quality, without chemicals, before discharging the wastewater into the environment.


One of our clients, a large woodland charity with a strong environmental ethos chose this solution to meet regulatory requirements. As a type of passive treatment that relies on natural processes, treatment time can be slower than that of more active systems that use chemicals and other techniques; however, they have lower operational costs, minimal environmental impacts and can enhance local biodiversity.

Share

World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2025

By Rachael Plant • June 17, 2025
Desertification and drought are two of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. Exacerbated by climate change, the devastating effects of both can be felt across the globe, with an estimated 40% of the world's population impacted by water scarcity events. As global temperatures continue to rise, and severe weather events increase, regions across the globe face the potential for increased frequency and severity of droughts, often progressing rapidly and unexpectedly. As of 29th May this year, a drought was officially declared in parts of the UK, having experienced the driest start to Spring in over 130 years. Whilst the recent rainfall at the start of June has helped to stabilise concerns, uncertainty for the months ahead still remain. How is the UK landscape affected by drought?

Tom Onslow joins Envireau Water

By Rachael Plant • June 12, 2025
Envireau Water is delighted to welcome Tom Onslow to our North Office in Richmond! Tom joined us at the start of the month from Western Australia, where he gained experience working as a Field Hydrogeologist. Prior to this, Tom graduated from Newcastle University with a Master of Earth Science (MEarthSci). Tom is experienced in both field and desk-based activities, including the supervision of water exploration drilling programs, conducting hydrogeological sampling and logging, carrying out pumping tests and analysis and designing and installing groundwater monitoring networks. Tom has also built a strong foundation in technical reporting, having contributed to a wide range of water-related projects, particularly across the mining sector. At Envireau Water, Tom will continue to develop his hydrogeological expertise and provide technical support across a range of sectors both on site and in the office.

Securing your Water Bottling Plant against Climate Change

By Rachael Plant • June 11, 2025
As the threat of climate change continues to grow, the occurrence of extreme weather events is becoming increasingly common across the UK, with the rising frequency of flooding and drought posing significant challenges nationwide. After the recent dry spell experienced across the UK, one thing is clear: climate change is a hazard affecting all industries and it is more important than ever for businesses to take proactive steps to secure their water supplies against these unpredictable weather events. We asked our Principal Hydrogeologist, Shona Symon , for her thoughts on the matter within the bottled water industry. Shona, can you explain the importance for operators to safeguard their water bottling plant against the impacts of climate change, and what challenges may arise if not adequately protected?
Show More

World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2025

By Rachael Plant • June 17, 2025
Desertification and drought are two of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. Exacerbated by climate change, the devastating effects of both can be felt across the globe, with an estimated 40% of the world's population impacted by water scarcity events. As global temperatures continue to rise, and severe weather events increase, regions across the globe face the potential for increased frequency and severity of droughts, often progressing rapidly and unexpectedly. As of 29th May this year, a drought was officially declared in parts of the UK, having experienced the driest start to Spring in over 130 years. Whilst the recent rainfall at the start of June has helped to stabilise concerns, uncertainty for the months ahead still remain. How is the UK landscape affected by drought?

Tom Onslow joins Envireau Water

By Rachael Plant • June 12, 2025
Envireau Water is delighted to welcome Tom Onslow to our North Office in Richmond! Tom joined us at the start of the month from Western Australia, where he gained experience working as a Field Hydrogeologist. Prior to this, Tom graduated from Newcastle University with a Master of Earth Science (MEarthSci). Tom is experienced in both field and desk-based activities, including the supervision of water exploration drilling programs, conducting hydrogeological sampling and logging, carrying out pumping tests and analysis and designing and installing groundwater monitoring networks. Tom has also built a strong foundation in technical reporting, having contributed to a wide range of water-related projects, particularly across the mining sector. At Envireau Water, Tom will continue to develop his hydrogeological expertise and provide technical support across a range of sectors both on site and in the office.

Securing your Water Bottling Plant against Climate Change

By Rachael Plant • June 11, 2025
As the threat of climate change continues to grow, the occurrence of extreme weather events is becoming increasingly common across the UK, with the rising frequency of flooding and drought posing significant challenges nationwide. After the recent dry spell experienced across the UK, one thing is clear: climate change is a hazard affecting all industries and it is more important than ever for businesses to take proactive steps to secure their water supplies against these unpredictable weather events. We asked our Principal Hydrogeologist, Shona Symon , for her thoughts on the matter within the bottled water industry. Shona, can you explain the importance for operators to safeguard their water bottling plant against the impacts of climate change, and what challenges may arise if not adequately protected?

Bethan Joule joins Envireau Water

By Rachael Plant • June 10, 2025
We're thrilled to welcome Bethan Joule to our growing Shrewsbury office! Bethan joins us as a Senior Hydrogeologist, bringing over six years of experience in technical roles at Wardell Armstrong. Prior to this, she graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an MSc in Environmental Engineering in 2019. Bethan is experienced in preparing abstraction licence applications, delivering Hydrogeological Risk Assessments (HRAs), and overseeing a wide range of site investigations — including borehole drilling and hydrogeological testing - across multiple sectors, including minerals, waste, and construction. At Envireau Water , Bethan will be continuing to provide similar hydrogeological services to our extensive client base whilst also developing complimentary skills across our broad range of sectors.
Show More