Dynamic Drains: Ancient watercourse to be revealed to reduce flood risk

AFTERMATH: Recent flooding at Commonwealth Homes on Bricknell estate

Now & Then, a column by Angus Young

The management of Hull’s ancient watercourses is being reimagined to alleviate flooding and boost bidoversity

It’s nearly 60 years since the last open drain in Hull was filled in.

The Foredyke Stream used to be visible as it flowed in a straight line from Bransholme before taking a sharp late turn on its approach to Witham near the city centre before discharging into the River Hull near North Bridge.

Originally an agricultural drainage ditch rather than a natural watercourse, the stream’s channel was filled in with aggregates and soil and covered over.

Today much of the route is a pedestrian walkway and cycle path while some sections are hidden under car parks, industrial units and, at one point, part of the Reckitts factory site.

What remains of the open stream can be seen in North Branshome where, as part of the1960s infill works, it was diverted to discharge into the much larger Holderness Drain.

By then several other open ancient drains running through the city had already been filled in or encased in underground culverts, notably Cottingham Drain, Cottingham & Newland Beck and the Beverley & Skidby Drain.

WHEN ROADS BECAME RIVERS: A man travels by canoe on Willerby Road during the 2007 floods

The work was largely carried out as a result of the city’s post-war expansion and the perceived health and safety dangers associated with open waterways flowing through new residential and business areas.

However, at least one drain is soon set to be uncovered again as part of a series of projects aimed at reducing flood risk in Hull.

Setting Dyke in West Hull is still open until it discharges into the Northern Trunk Sewer at National Avenue.

Flowing into Setting Dyke is Appleton Drain which services the nearby Bricknell estate. It’s currently contained in a closed culvert under a woodland which runs parallel to the Hull to Beverley railway line but later this summer the underground concrete pipe will be removed and replaced by meandering open stream within the woodland.

The idea is to create an entirely natural sponge to soak up the run-off from the estate’s household drains and roadside gullies. This will not only hopefully stop regular garden flooding experienced by nearby residents but also flooding on the grass playing field at Appleton Primary School.

Crucially, it will also slow the flow of water into Setting Dyke and, ultimately, the city’s main combined sewer system.

ALLEVIATION: The recently installed flood storage platform and access steps on Setting Dyke

Together with a series of pumping station failures, the sewer system’s inability to cope with intense and prolonged rainfall led to the devastating floods of June 2007.

Since then, work to hold surface water back from entering the system during similar weather events has seen the construction of a series of large storage lagoons around the edge of the city as well as several smaller aquagreens and swales on greenspace land in heavily-populated neighbourhoods. Adapting some of the existing drains is the next step.

Already around 40 trees have been felled at the southern end of the Appleton Community Woodland in advance of the site being converted into a storage basin capable of holding 600 cubic metres of water. Most of the felled trees were either diseased or coming to the end of their natural life.

For each one felled, two new ones are being planted. Some of the felled trees will be used to form new log habitats for wildlife in the woodland.

Councillor Sharn Hofman, who represents Bricknell ward, said: “Residents living close to Appleton Primary School highlighted flooding on the school field and we saw pictures of gardens completely flooded due to poor drainage on the field.

“As a result, we approached Living With Water (a partnership between Hull and East Riding councils, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and the University of Hull, who work towards reducing flood risk in Hull) and pointed out the problems being faced in our area.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: The soon to be uncovered route of Appleton Drain

“In response, they produced plans which will divert a significant amount of water away from the field.

“Increasing rainfall means partnerships like Living with Water are crucial, and the work that has been done already in our region prevented serious flooding in 2024.

“These improvements look to build on that and will have a direct impact on the community around Appleton Road. Whilst the risk of garden flooding in the area will still exist, we expect that the frequency and severity will reduce because of these changes.

“Unavoidably, we will lose around 40 trees from the community wood to accommodate this work. The wood and tree coverage in Hull are very important to us, which is why tree losses will be almost completely limited to end of life and diseased trees – such as those suffering from ash dieback – and the scheme will include planting of new trees in the local area to mitigate.

“This all follows on from over 500 trees we have planted in Bricknell over the last four years.”

Dan Jaguki is a project manager at the Environment Agency and is currently playing a leading role in the Dynamic Drains partnership, which includes the city council, Groundwork Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

PREPARATION: Trees felled ahead of work starting on the wet woodland water storage basin

He said: “Hundreds of years ago the city and much of the land to the north was reclaimed from fresh and saltwater marshes.

“The land was protected from the rivers Hull and Humber by embankments and a large number of drains were cut into the land to carry water away.

“While many of these drains were covered over or filled in during the 1960s, some of them still remain as open watercourses flowing through the city.

“Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation and the associated pollution and littering have since taken its toll on the city’s drains, but this project aims to reverse the trend by improving the condition of these waterways, creating more accessible green spaces and new habitat for wildlife and fostering a renewed connection and sense of pride between Hull’s drains and their local communities.”

Dynamic Drains projects have already been carried out along Beverley & Barmston Drain and Holderness Drain. The first phase of the works at Setting Dyke was completed just before Christmas with the creation of a new flood storage platform providing extra capacity for water as the drain is also used as an outlet for the nearby Derringham flood storage lagoon following prolonged rainfall.

Mr Jaguki added: “We are really proud of what we have achieved so far as a partnership and hope the community continues to get involved and support us. While the drains are at the centre of what is an urban environment and all the challenges that brings, it doesn’t mean we can’t have good water quality and biodiversity so that wildlife can thrive.

“We are committed to helping people connect with water and nature to enjoy all the benefits that brings.”

Construction work at the woodland is scheduled to take place in August with further similar projects also earmarked for Foredyke and Old Fleet Drain in East Hull with partner organisers again working with local primary schools at each site as part of a three-year education programme.