About the event

As the UK's climate changes, more frequent periods of intense rainfall will affect how water moves through the landscape. With localised flooding becoming more likely, there are implications for both people and wildlife. This is especially true here in Hampshire, where our underground chalk aquifer also causes water to rise up from below.

In this talk, Sue Illman from Illman Young Landscape Design will explore how Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) can help us to tackle this issue. Using natural processes as their model, these systems help to move, collect, or attenuate stormwater, while also providing biodiversity benefits. This talk is the first in a two-part series that will cover:

• Part 1 - How SuDS work, why we need them, and where they can be useful.
• Part 2 - How communities can add SuDS to their houses and roads.

Sue is a practicing landscape architect and a specialist in historic landscape conservation, with a long-term interest and expertise in hard landscape construction and planting design. She has extensive experience in both lecturing on, and delivering training about, SuDS and frequently acts as Project Manager for landscape-led projects. She was also among the authors of CIRIA's SuDS manual.

This event is part of Watercress and Winterbournes, a Landscape Partnership Scheme that is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating seven local chalk streams.