Floating garden plans would create wildlife haven

The ecosystem, similar to this one in Lincoln, would be attached to the river wall

Plans to create an artificial island on the River Ouse to help wildlife and improve water quality have been put forward.

Environmental charity St Nicks wants to install the pontoon-like structure on the river near North Street Gardens in York.

A spokesperson for the charity said the "floating ecosystem" would "inject life" into that part of the River Ouse and give birds a place to "rest and nest".

They said the island would be attached to the river wall via an anchoring system so it could rise and fall during flooding.

Plans, which have been lodged with City of York Council, state the structure would help to break up the water’s surface and provide shade, while microbes from the plant roots would also create shelter and a feeding ground for small fish.

If approved, the island would be covered with a range of native evergreen and flowering plants, which would take around a year to become established, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The structure itself would be 54ft (16.45m) long and 7ft (2.34m) wide and made up of seven modules made from coconut coir.

A floating ecosystem, similar to the one pictured above, could be installed o the River Ouse

St Nicks said: “Floating ecosystems are engineered to improve water quality within rivers as they increase aquatic life, leading to a balanced and revitalised waterscape.

“One of the main benefits is that they require no watering and nature tends to be very effective at managing itself once we provide the structure for it to grow on."

They said Scottish company Biomatrix would design and build the floating ecosystem and while the charity would maintain it after installation.

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