WANDLE LEAP.

The Context

A single drop of rain falling on Kent may find itself - by way of the North Downs porous bedrock - emerging through a clear spring at Waddon Ponds in Croydon. A 9 mile journey through one of London’s secondary rivers lies ahead before it can pass into the River Thames and on to the Sea. This tributary is known as the Wandle, and has an equally rich, albeit lesser-known story than London’s principal river.

The Proposal

A sweeping fish ladder spanning the mouth of the Wandle provide the Salmon access from the Thames to the breeding grounds in the upper reaches of the tributary. An associated salmon hatchery is set in a mosaic of riparian habitat, including marsh and wet woodland.

The scheme is an eco-tech springboard for a unique kind of local revitalisation with potential for far-reaching benefits. The ladder allows Salmon navigating the Thames to access the entire length of the Wandle channel where mature adults can breed and spawn young in the area of Watermeads. Complementing the fish ladder is a rebreeding centre and wetland park on the eastern bank.

The proposal engages the public by restoring all the sensory qualities of the Wandle that have been lost to this generation of Londoners: the chance sighting of wild species; the sound of gushing water; and the cool lushness of the riverbank. The design strengthens the access route along the Thames and upstream along the Wandle valley. The river path connection dips down near the highest weir to enter a robust acrylic tunnel allowing pedestrians to pass under the water itself to spot the passage of fish. The culvert remedial works upstream will result in the water being significantly clearer, making this proposal feasible. Hydropower will form the principle source of energy on the site.