It’s a kind of MAGIC: how you can help Hull be more flood resilient

Have you ever wondered how you could help Hull become more flood resilient?

As flooding becomes more of a concern in the Hull area, Sewell on the go have teamed up with Community Action for Water on their project MAGIC to support their research into how Hull can become more flood resilient. The project looks exclusively at soaking up water in ordinary spaces, and how residents and local businesses can do their bit to support a safer future for the city.

MAGIC (Mobilising Adaptation: Governance of Infrastructure through Co-Production) is a project by the UK Climate Resilience Programme led by Dr Liz Sharp of the University of Sheffield. Alongside researching a community-led approach to reducing flood risk, it also looks at providing opportunities for people to improve their health and wellbeing, through better engagement with local blue and green spaces.

As part of a five-installation project across Hull, Sewell on the go’s Chanterlands Avenue store have had planters installed to surround their outdoor seating area. On the surface, they look like any other planter, but they are actually mini reservoirs that hold 3,300 litres of rainwater collected from the garage roof. The water is used as a water source for the flowers and plants, and can also be manually released into the drainage network in advance of a storm to maximise capacity.

Patrick Sewell, Sewell on the go MD said: “Being a local business, we know only too well of the problems Hull and surrounding areas have been impacted by floods. When first approached, we were delighted to help the Magic team on this project.”

Installed by local innovative co-operative Susdrainable, they demonstrate just one way water can be collected safely and reused in a sustainable way. Other installations include a new wildlife garden at a local school, a green roof and clever water tank system at a community centre, and rain tanks at a church and village hall.

Our planters frame a stunning, full wall mural painted by local artist Emma Garness that hopes to spike interest and encourage conversation about the collection of rainwater amongst the local community and people who visit the store. Along with the planters, the outdoor seating area has become a popular spot for people to take a break.

Supporting the MAGIC project is just a small part of our mission towards a more sustainable future. Alongside the SuDs, you can also find beehives at our Hull West store (A63 westbound) which are managed by the PATT foundation.

Across many sites we’ve also updated our plastic gloves to the more environmentally friendly, GripHero. These are made from 100% recycled plastics and offer a 94% reduction in Co2 footprint when replacing traditional plastic gloves.

Find out how you can help Hull be more flood resilient, and learn more about the MAGIC project here.

Gocompare have put together a guide to preparing for a flood and protecting your property – https://www.gocompare.com/household-tips/limiting-flood-risk-and-damage/