On Friday 6 March we re-visited the Wey & Arun site in Guildford. It was great to return at a different time of the year - the first visit was in October 2008 - and experience it at spring season.
The long grasses that obscured most of the views had been cut back, as were the stinging nettles, surprising most and leaving us with new ideas for revisiting the project and our initial design.
My major issues now, are focussing more on the realities in proposing a canal, the changes in water levels between Cranleigh waters on either side (approx 2-4ft rise and fall), including a lock to deal with the level change, and new proposals for biodiversity and habitat creation. 
I 'd like to retain at least part of the productive woodland and coppiced woodland proposed before, but now that the understanding is that the canal is a wet corridor through a wet landscape, a wet productive woodland would be more suited. Doesn't really change the initial selection of foliage - they are all suitable for damp/wet conditions. The foraging aspect will also remain, with the potential to drive towards a sustainable community. 
I suppose to sum the project up in a few words/sentences would be 'to create a recreational space with new opportunities for wildlife and habitat creation, whilst allowing the neighbouring community to define open spaces for their own interventions.'
My focus now and over the Easter break is defining what type of edges for the canal, with major consideration to vegetation and bio-engineering, flood prevention using basins and ponds with specific intentions for habitat creation and possible integration of water filtration systems (since the canal will link up with a navigable river). I will carry over elements from the first semester project to compliment the new proposals. Wheeewww.
Some pics of the return to the Wey and Arun below...
In this urban area, recreational and community facilities make the space an invaluable amenity for the neighbouring communities. They can enjoy music and events under a covered ampitheatre as well as a comminuty centre for eco-centric workshops. Without a doubt the site improves the social and environmental health of the surrounding neighbourhoods and it's inhabitants. 
Once you pass Kensal Green Cemetery and Sainsbury's, it becomes more of an urban canal, with the odd splash of graffiti and denser buildings.....these buildings (aside from the old Virgin building with green lawns) have 'turned their backs' on the canal but the newer developments further down are restricted from doing this and must agree to British Waterways standard of embracing the canal and opening up to it.
The most inspirational part of this trip, was the Meanwhile Gardens Wildlife Garden. I touched on something vaguely similar in my initial Wey and Arun project which was a healing garden for the special needs children of neighbouring Gosden House school. Meanwhile Gardens however works in conjunction with Kensington and Chelsea Mind, an organisation involved in rehabilitating people with drug and alcohol addictions and mental health issues. They are encouraged to help out in a small section of the Wildlife Garden, involved in things such as planting and trimming hedgerows etc.
Aside from this, Meanwhile Gardens is a small (4 acre) urban sanctuary, in an area where a lot of people do not have gardens. It is a wonderfully peaceful space, creating habitats for various species of wildife - birds, insects and microinvertebrates. The history behind it is inspirational too, that a young sculptor 33 years ago looked at the derelict land left over after the council tore down terraced houses, and wantedto build a community garden. The council gave him 'temporary permission' and so he named it 'Meanwhile Gardens'. The gardens prospered and the name stuck and it really is a wonderful place, with access for everyone, the Nature Walks, Moroccan Garden, Meanwhile Skatebowl (oldest in the UK) and the Playhut.
Moving further down the canal brings more mixed housing and residential moorings. A new pathway specifically for cyclists was laid due to the narrowing towpath and heavy moorings. It runs alongside the canal and old church. Marked out with green gravel and a brown pedestrian alongside, it has taken the strain off pedestrians on the small towpath.
There are many things worth mentioning down this end but since Meanwhile is my focus the only other thing I will mention is Rembrandt Gardens at Little Venice - a lovely 'English Garden'....with manicured lawns and enchanting planting. It has wondeful views over the island at Little Venice and so the benches have been laid diagonally facing the canal. Behind some terraced planting climbs the wall and due to the sunken nature of the garden, the traffic surrounding the garden is drowned out.
Product designer Marieke Staps has an ingenious way of harnessing power from the hidden energy conducive metals like zinc, copper, iron and microbial fuel cells contained within soils.
In places like London which seemingly has more rainfall than sunshine, the Soil Lamp may be a winner in the sustainable garden light stakes, beating the sun-powered options. If designed on a more large scale, perhaps even street lights and other electrical requiring objects could start using this technology? 
Next up was Tom Webster of the Campaign for Dark Skies. Not really a topic a young landscape architect would consider but I now realise what an important issue this is. There is too much badly used, intrusive lighting in our cities, creating skyglow, glare and a general nuisance ans those are just the effects on humans. Fauna such as bats and seagulls were mentioned to be affected, they dont know the health effects but their behaviour at least is enough to notice. An example of affected flora was a picture of a London Plane tree with a lamppost set amongst it's branches. During winter, the leaves nearest the light were still attached which meant there was still moisture within the leaves and branches which would freeze and kill it during the coldest months. Slovenia is the first country in the world to pass legislation against light pollution. 
Everything about this sea bath is great....its material quality, the obvious sculpural shape and protection it provides, and of course that it's free to the public, but another fantastic point is its availability and use for everyone, young and old, able and disabled, and it's design allowing for playful peaceful day or evening swims or maybe a morning intense exercise.
