Landscape & Urban Design Issue 79 2026 | Page 64

GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE

SUPPORTING GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE GROUND UP

providing drainage during heavy rainfall while retaining moisture in drier periods. This improves plant resilience and reduces reliance on irrigation, making it well suited to constrained urban schemes.
Integrated water management across landscapes BluWater Solutions also supports the use of green roofs and green walls to help manage water consistently across entire sites. By treating water as a connected system, landscapes are better equipped to respond to climate pressures.
As the UK’ s towns and cities adapt to climate change, urban growth and increasing rainfall intensity, green and blue infrastructure( GBI) has become essential to the performance of modern landscapes. Public spaces, highways and residential developments are now expected to manage water sustainably while delivering environmental and social value.
At the heart of this is surface water management. Often approached purely as a technical or compliance issue, when water is designed into landscapes through sustainable drainage systems( SuDS), it can add wider environmental and placemaking value.
This integrated approach underpins the work of BluWater Solutions.
Making SuDS work as part of the landscape BluWater Solutions specialises in nature-based water management systems that support SuDS-led design. Working alongside landscape architects, designers, contractors and public bodies, the company helps integrate water management into the fabric of landscapes rather than concealing it below ground.
Features such as rain gardens and swales slow, filter and store surface water while creating attractive, biodiverse spaces. In streetscapes, public squares and parks, rain gardens offer a practical solution for managing runoff from hard surfaces, while improving soil health and supporting planting.
Supporting healthy soils and planting The success of SuDS and rain gardens depends heavily on the performance of the growing medium. Hydrorock, a lightweight, porous substrate, supports water management at root level by
As expectations for sustainable, multifunctional landscapes continue to rise, designing with water is no longer optional. Through thoughtful SuDS design, effective substrates like Hydrorock and close collaboration with project teams, BluWater Solutions helps ensure water works in harmony with landscape design.
BluWater Solutions is a BioScapes brand, established to help deliver practical, nature-based water management solutions. Our endto-end services include design and specification guidance, installation and maintenance support, CPD and community engagement opportunities.
www. bluwatersolutions. co. uk
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