A pair of rescued bears are making themselves at home in new surroundings on the Isle of Wight – and will soon be keeping cool in a special play pond filled by a state-of-the-art rainwater harvesting system.
Southern Water has been helping the team at Sandown’s Wildheart Animal Sanctuary prepare for the arrival of the Azerbaijan brown bears by supporting them to keep the animals watered in as sustainable way as possible.
The rainwater harvesting system will capture rainwater from the attraction’s café roof in large tanks, before supplying the bear pond, keeping the bears happy while reducing the demand on local water resources.
Lawrence Bates, CEO at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, says:
“The rainwater harvesting system means we can reuse rainwater elsewhere at the sanctuary, cutting down our costs and put that money into what really matters – the welfare of the wildlife we rescue.”
The Southern Water team have also created a SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Scheme) Safari at the Sanctuary, which by gathering rainwater from the highest point of the Sanctuary is utilising gravity to create a rainwater curtain, children’s mud kitchen, and wetland plant area at various locations across the site. There are also permeable pathways too.
This is thanks to a £200,000 grant from the company’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force.
Until now, 18million litres of rainwater has entered the sewer network from the Sanctuary every year. Now, the SuDS Safari and other interventions like the bear play pond harvesting system, is slowing that flow into the environment – and promoting biodiversity at the same time.
This results in less pressure being placed on the sewer network, reducing the risks of flooding and storm overflows.
Joanne Wood, Partnerships Delivery Manager at Southern Water, says:
“It has been so exciting to help the Sanctuary and its amazing animals. But managing the water cycle better here will in turn help the environment beyond its boundaries, reducing the number of storm overflows and flooding incidents which will all contribute to healthier rivers and seas on the Isle of Wight.”
Absolutely brilliant. Can’t wait to go and see the lucky bears.