River Quaggy: Lewisham - Salix Solutions

Salix provided Coir Rolls and Coir Pallets to provide instant vegetation and habitat on the deculverted River Quaggy.

River at start of works in May

River developing in August

River at start of works in May 2019

The river in July 2019

River developing in August 2020

Salix were involved in the construction of in-channel features to help restore the River Quaggy in Lewisham.

The River Quaggy is classified as a chalk stream. However, urbanisation has significantly degraded the watercourse within London.

The confluence between the River Quaggy and the River Ravensbourne was historically culverted, but recent development has led to the deculverting of the watercourses and the confluence.

Salix installed Coir Rolls and Coir Pallets to provide instant vegetation and habitat in spring, 2019.

Since installation, vegetation has established well to provide excellent habitat. The area provides a vital refuge for wildlife as the watercourse is culverted both upstream and downstream.

Revisiting the site

We went back in 2022 to see how the project had faired and were delighted to see that the wetland is rich with a diverse range of plant species, and roach and smaller fry were also visible in the river.

River Quaggy 3 years on and well vegetated — River Quaggy 3 years on

Products Used

Selection Of Unplanted and Pre-Established 200mm and 300mm Coir Rolls

Coir Rolls

Coir Rolls are an organic living revetment that provide erosion control and rapid vegetation establishment. Salix have developed a range of specific species mixes for use in all types of water bodies.

Purple Loosestrife flowering within pre-established coir pallets at Salix nursery

Coir Pallets

Salix produce a wide range of pre-established coir pallets planted with high quality native plant species. Coir pallets are composed from coir fibre which is a sustainable waste product from the husk of the coconut shell.

Details

Location: River Quaggy London
Rivers & Water Courses, Urban Rivers

Your staff are always friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and we have always been pleased with the service and the quality of the wetland plants and planting services. Technical knowledge on erosion control is also excellent. Keep up the good work!

Living Water Ecosystems Ltd

Excellent overall performance – very approachable and offered a good sustainable solutions to rectify a significant erosion scour to the river foreshore without comprising the existing flood defence. Carried out work to agreed timescale and budget. Certainly would value their future input.

Environment Agency, Leeds

We invited Salix to re-landscape the watercourse through a design and build project. The works to the watercourse were completed within two weeks of starting on site and, despite a number of prolonged heavy rain events both during and after the works, the pre-established coir rolls and pallets all began putting on new growth within a matter of days providing the watercourse with instant channel vegetation and protection to the toe of the banks. The VMax reinforcement used to stabilise the slopes has also prevented any erosion to the sandy soil beneath and has allowed the rapid establishment of grass which wouldn’t have otherwise been possible.

South Ribble Council

We have worked with Salix on a number of projects throughout East Anglia over the last 6 years, and we have always found them to be highly professional and competent. We have used their services as suppliers of quality wetland plants, with a traceable provenance, and as contractors to both supply and plant the wetland plants. In addition we have always relied on the technical advice and knowledge of David Holland, in particular, to help answer queries from our clients regarding wetland planting schemes we have been involved in, this is an added value part of their service, for which we are grateful.

UPM Tilhill

We used HydraCX for the first time on a Network Rail project in Chipping Campden. We wanted to establish vegetation growth as quickly as possible on a slope with poor ground conditions without the need for importing topsoil due to possession time constraints. HydraCX provided an excellent growing medium for rapid germination.

Carillion Rail

Atkins has worked with Salix on a number of projects, collaborating on design concept, trialling and implementation. We have found their experience valuable in delivering cost effective and environmentally functional solutions.

Atkins

HydraCX gave an immediate impression the embankment was grassed, making it more visually pleasing to our travelling customers. The rapidity of grass growth was exceptional and it added additional strength to the slope surface.

Network Rail