Floating garden plans would create wildlife haven

There are exciting plans to create a floating garden on the River Ouse, which aims to support wildlife and enhance the quality of the water. The environmental charity St Nicks has proposed to install this unique structure near North Street Gardens in York. According to a spokesperson for the charity, this 'floating ecosystem' would bring new life to that section of the River Ouse and provide birds with a safe place to rest and build their nests. The design includes an anchoring system that will attach the garden to the river wall, allowing it to rise and fall with the water levels during floods. The floating garden is expected to help break up the surface of the water and provide shade, while the roots of the plants will create shelter and a feeding area for small fish. If the plans receive approval, the garden will be covered with a variety of native evergreen and flowering plants, which will take about a year to establish. The structure will measure 54 feet long and 7 feet wide, consisting of seven modules made from coconut coir. St Nicks explained that floating ecosystems are designed to improve water quality in rivers by increasing aquatic life, which leads to a balanced and revitalized waterscape. One of the main advantages of these gardens is that they do not require watering, as nature is very good at managing itself once we provide the right structure for it to thrive. The Scottish company Biomatrix will be responsible for designing and constructing the floating ecosystem, while St Nicks will maintain it after it is installed.