Rewilding River Mersey
Manchester, like much of the UK, faces urgent environmental challenges like flooding and the loss of wildlife and natural habitats. Addressing these issues requires halting biodiversity decline and actively restoring lost ecosystems. This project aims to reintroduce nature into the urban environment through rewilding.
The dwindling population of invertebrates, especially crucial pollinators, poses a significant threat to biodiversity and our very existence. Moreover, the looming risk of flooding in the area underscores the necessity of restoring the River Mersey to its natural state and establishing wetlands that can sustain species like the endangered water voles. Hence, there is a critical need to create mosaic landscapes capable of accommodating a diverse array of species.
Design Considerations
Rewilding in this context involves the establishment of biodiversity hotspots, re-naturalising of river Mersey, and the creation of wildlife corridors. These measures not only foster biodiversity but also inculcates appreciation of nature among humans, thereby forging a stronger connection between humanity and wildlife.
This project supports non-human species at every level by facilitating natural processes and creating symbiotic ecosystems. Using native species for Miyawaki forests and wetlands enables self-sustaining natural landscapes to thrive and transition through time. Additionally, areas managed more directly by humans, such as pollinator gardens, serve to advance research efforts and provide employment opportunities.
Even elements of human-centric design, such as the bridge walk, has been crafted to accommodate birds, owls, bats, and pollinators, offering humans a firsthand experience of rewilding.
Conclusion
By prioritizing natural processes and embracing mosaic landscapes, this project sets forth a sustainable blueprint for urban planning. Historically, humans have encroached on natural spaces to build cities, but now it’s time to let nature reclaim its place. By doing so, we can learn to coexist with nature, recognizing our role as part of the ecosystem rather than its dominators.
