Volunteers Launch BioHaven® Floating Wetlands

BioHaven Floating Wetlands on the River Lee

BioHaven Floating Wetlands

The Thames21 vision of putting healthy rivers at the heart of the community makes them a great organisation to develop projects with. 

In the summer of 2016 frog environmental worked with Thames21 to design and install BioHaven® Floating Wetlands on 2 sections of the River Lee in East London.

The project was lucky enough to have the support of many dedicated Thames21 volunteers during installation who helped with planting and launching the BioHaven® modules.

River Lee BioHaven vegetation establishment success

River Lee BioHaven vegetation establishment success

Only a few months later and we returned on to site to check on progress. The photos show the huge success of BioHaven® so far, with 100% plant coverage creating beautiful floating ecosystems in the River Lee.

As well as creating habitat above and below the water’s surface and processing nutrients from the polluted water, the installations also inject more colour and life into the River Lee, making the area more interesting and diverse for the many people who use the towpath.

The project was also supported by the Canal & River Trust who actively encourage improving the biodiversity of canals and rivers as one of their central strategic themes.

The design of BioHaven® is unique: the product mimics a naturally occurring wetland, delivering many of the same eco-system services. At frog environmental we see BioHaven® as a key tool to help organisations deliver vibrant and biodiverse river corridors and as a way of encouraging communities to engage with their local water spaces.