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Out and about in Slough today 👀

Navid and Sam have been on the streets carrying out flood resilience surveys.

Did you spot them? Or maybe even stop for a chat?

If you see the team, feel free to say hello👋.
They’re always happy to talk about what we’re doing ...and how it all helps build a more flood-resilient community.

In partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council

#OneSlough #SloughCommunity #FloodResillience

Meet Solange from WWT London Wetland Centre, one of Project Sponge’s key partners working right here in Slough.

With climate change bringing heavier rainfall and longer dry spells, WWT’s role in Project Sponge focuses on helping neighbourhoods manage water more naturally, holding onto ...it when it’s scarce and soaking it up when there’s too much.

Just as important as the technical work is the community. Project Sponge is built around local voices, shared ideas, and collaboration with the people who use these parks and spaces every day.

Project Sponge is in partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council

What if local residents could help collect real data about the health of their neighbourhood waterways?

Project Sponge is exploring the UK’s first citizen science flood catchment in Slough.

That means residents, schools and community groups helping monitor things like:

...💧 Water levels
🧪 Water quality
🌿 Biodiversity changes
🌧 Flooding after heavy rain

Participants are able to use simple monitoring tools such as water testing kits to help build a clearer picture of how water moves through neighbourhoods like Chalvey, Salt Hill and Godolphin.

Because the people who live in a place often notice changes long before anyone else.

By combining community knowledge with environmental data, Project Sponge aims to explore smarter ways to manage water and reduce flood risk across the catchment.

Would you be interested in taking part in something like this?

Project Sponge is in partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council

Places like 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 show how nature is woven into everyday life in Slough.

Streams winding through green spaces like this create habitats for wildlife, peaceful places to walk and moments of calm in busy neighbourhoods.

But these ...landscapes also play another important role.

Green spaces can help slow, store and absorb rainwater, helping reduce pressure on streets and drainage systems during heavy rainfall.

Projects like Project Sponge are exploring how spaces like this can support both nature and flood resilience across neighbourhoods like Salt Hill, Chalvey and Baylis.

Have you visited Salt Hill Park recently?

Project Sponge is in partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council

𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵 ❌
Flooding only affects homes near rivers.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 ✔️
In towns like Slough, much of the flood risk actually comes from surface water during heavy rainfall.

Heavy rain can fall faster than drains and hard ...surfaces can handle, causing water to collect on streets and pavements.

Across Slough, more than 3,200 homes and businesses are exposed to flood risk during extreme rainfall.

Project Sponge is focused on exploring greener ways to manage rainwater across neighbourhoods like Chalvey, Salt Hill Park and Godolphin Recreation Grounds.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻?

📸 Archive photo of flooding in Granville Avenue, Slough - October 2009

Project Sponge is in partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council

When people think about preventing floods, they often imagine bigger drains or underground pipes.

But some of the most effective solutions can actually make our neighbourhoods greener and more enjoyable places to live.

𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵, ...𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.

That could include things like:
🌿 Planting rain gardens that capture and absorb water from roads and pavements
🌳 Creating greener spaces in parks and neighbourhoods that allow rain to soak into the ground
💧 Using sustainable drainage features that slow the flow of water during heavy rainfall

Small changes like these can help landscapes slow, store and absorb rainwater before it reaches streets and drains.

💬 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 - 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲?

Project Sponge is in partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council

Streams running through places like Salt Hill Park and Godolphin Recreation Ground are an important part of Slough’s local landscape.

After heavy rain, these waterways help carry water through the catchment and away from surrounding neighbourhoods.

Our volunteers meet every ...Thursday to help clear litter and debris from sections of the stream so that the waterway is healthy and flowing.

Simple actions like this can help reduce blockages, support wildlife and keep our green spaces looking their best.

It’s a great example of how communities can play a role in caring for the places around them.

💬 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗗𝗠 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?

Project Sponge is in partnership with WWT London Wetland Centre The National Flood Forum Slough Borough Council Buckinghamshire Council