Completed

Groundwork London, with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, delivered the LIFE+ “Climate-Proofing Social Housing Landscapes” programme (2013–Sep 2016) across three estates (Queen Caroline, Cheeseman’s Terrace, and Cyril Thatcher/Eric MacDonald/Richard Knight) using affordable, light-engineering retrofits of blue-green infrastructure. The project coupled design with deep resident engagement and training for council staff and local apprentices.

Since completion, City Hall has published per-estate schemes and costs (Queen Caroline ~£254k; Cheeseman’s ~£117k; Cyril/Eric/Richard ~£79k) and a detailed measure matrix (e.g., Schotterrasen at Queen Caroline; trench tree pit at Richard Knight). Monitoring by the University of East London shows strong performance: 100% diversion of rainfall from 3,160 m² of impermeable areas into ground-level SuDS, up to 98% reduction in peak flows from pram-shed green roofs, notable roof-surface cooling during heat events, and ≈1.2 million litres of rainwater retained/diverted annually. Post-project, H&F reports continued roll-out of green roofs and SuDS across estates and highways, with mapping to target new sites. Recognition includes the Landscape Institute’s 2016 College of Fellows’ Award (plus a commendation) and susdrain’s 2018 SuDS Awards (Highly Commended).

The Alzette river restoration at “Am Brill” (Schifflange) reversed earlier channelisation that had uniformised the river and impoverished habitats. The project re-meandered the channel (+140 m length), raised and widened the bed (summer/winter profiles), and removed an artificial dyke to reconnect the river to existing ponds; a new pond was also created. Works were delivered in 2000 over ~600–700 m as part of the LIFE-Nature project “Ecological valorisation of the upper Alzette.” Reported outcomes include ≈30 cm reduction of high-water levels, ~20,000 m³ of floodplain storage, a delayed flood peak (~15 min) and shorter peak duration (42→24 min), together with improved self-purification capacity and habitat diversity. Since completion, the site has been opened to the public via a 3 km interpretive nature trail (2005), and in 2024 it was incorporated into the nationally protected “Brill – Am Pudel” reserve, confirming its long-term conservation status and management.

The Aklais Mire is a degraded raised bog located in western Latvia, within the Aklais Mire Nature Reserve, part of the Natura 2000 network. Covering approximately 2003 hectares, the site suffered significant drainage during the 20th century, which disrupted its natural hydrology and led to a decline in typical bog habitats and biodiversity.

From 2010 to 2013, Aklais was one of four sites restored under the EU-funded LIFE+ project “Restoration of Raised Bog Habitats in the Especially Protected Nature Areas of Latvia” (LIFE08 NAT/LV/000449). The project was led by the University of Latvia, with several national partners including the Nature Conservation Agency, the Latvian Fund for Nature, ELM Media, and the municipal company Rīgas meži. Restoration actions at Aklais focused primarily on blocking old drainage ditches using peat dams to raise the water table and restore natural bog hydrology. The project also involved the development of a management plan, ecological monitoring of vegetation, birds and invertebrates, and outreach activities such as exhibitions and public communication.

The goal was to enable the regeneration of active raised bog habitats and associated species, particularly *Sphagnum* mosses. Some edges of the site are adjacent to former peat extraction areas, which have further altered local conditions. By restoring hydrology, the project sought to create favourable conditions for long-term peat accumulation and biodiversity recovery.

Follow-up assessments between 2013 and 2017 showed that the rewetting actions were effective in raising the water table, but changes in vegetation composition were still limited in the short term. No significant increase in typical bog species or *Sphagnum* mosses was observed during the first years after restoration. This suggests that full ecological recovery will take longer or may require additional active interventions.

Although Aklais was not directly included in the later LIFE REstore project (2015–2019), this initiative offered valuable complementary knowledge for Latvian peatland restoration. It emphasized the importance of combining rewetting with plant reintroduction and of monitoring greenhouse gas fluxes in restored peatlands. The case of Aklais thus contributes to a broader understanding of peatland restoration dynamics in the Baltic region, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of large-scale hydrological rehabilitation.

Water retention spaces, reforestation and grazing management in southern Portugal.
At Tamera (Monte do Cerro, Odemira), an ecovillage of 190 permanent residents and >100 non-permanent inhabitants, a “Water Retention Landscape” has been implemented since 2006 using reforestation and mixed groundcover, holistic grazing, keyline design, terracing, swales, and decentralized lakes and ponds. By 2015, 29 lakes/retention spaces expanded open water from 0.62 ha to ~8.3 ha across a 154–156 ha property; subsequent work shifted to infiltration, mulching, vegetation and dam maintenance. Reported outcomes include autonomous water supply, stabilization of groundwater levels and increased biodiversity; the lakes also supported neighbours and firefighters in drought and fire periods. A cost–benefit assessment for 2015–2050 was carried out (NPV sensitive to assumptions). Water-quality monitoring (2012–2014) found several lakes eutrophic, while distributed water met EU thresholds, underscoring the need for continued management. Legally, the site has been framed within a Rural Intervention Plan (PIER) for Monte do Cerro and Vale da Mua (156.35 ha), with public participation opened in 2015 and the process entering a decisive phase in 2023.