In 1938, Murray Park in Alford was dismissed by farmers as "sponty" (boggy) land. Today, that same "liability" is a critical Nature-based Solution protecting the town from floods and storing carbon. In my latest blog post for the COEVOLVERS project, I explore how we can move beyond seeing nature as just infrastructure and instead view it as a living partner in our community history. Read the full analysis of this "Living Water System" here: [Link] #COEVOLVERS #NatureBasedSolutions #SocialScience #HorizonEurope #ClimateResilience
Part of the COEVOLVERS Project on Nature-based Solutions (NBS)
In the discourse of environmental governance, we often treat Nature-based Solutions (NBS) as modern technical interventions, engineered "fixes" for climate adaptation. Yet, as social researchers within the COEVOLVERS Horizon Europe project, we debate that NBS are not just static tools but dynamic "naturecultures", spaces where human history, ecological processes, and social well-being are inextricably knotted together.
The above is a visual case study from our recent work in Alford, Scotland, specifically the Murray Park Living Water System, perfectly illustrates this perspective. The attached infographic is not merely a hydrological map; it is a biography of a landscape that has co-evolved with its community.
The Historical Pivot: From "Too Wet" to "Water-Rich"
To understand the social value of this site, one must first look at its "Land History." The infographic reveals a fascinating archival tension: when Murray Park was officially established in 1938, its defining feature, water was viewed as a liability. Locals called the land "sponty" (boggy), and it was deemed "too wet for farming."
In the mid-20th century, moisture was a productivity obstacle. Today, through the lens of the COEVOLVERS project, we reinterpret this "spontiness" as a vital ecological asset. The high water table that once frustrated farmers is now recognised for creating anaerobic conditions that drive peat formation, turning the park into a critical carbon storage engine. What was once "marginal land" is now a central ally in our climate resilience strategy.
The "Sponge" and the Settlement
The visualisation anchors Murray Park within the wider Vale of Alford, a settlement shaped by its proximity to the River Don. The data presented is compelling in its scale: the River Don, running 131 km from the Cairngorms, exerts a "groundwater influence zone" that extends into the park, just 400 metres away.
Here, the "Living Water System" functions as a massive, distinct infrastructure. The 31 hectares of woodlands operate as a sponge, storing approximately 14,000 m³ of water during winter storms. This is a crucial statistic not just for hydrology, but for community security. By buffering floods downstream and releasing water slowly during droughts, the woodland performs a silent, unbilled service of care for the nearby homes, protecting them from dampness while reducing wildfire risk.
Co-Habitation: Biodiversity as Social Infrastructure
The project highlights how the park serves as a wildlife corridor, linking the river and woodland in a valley otherwise dominated by farmland. This connectivity is vital for otters, deer, and birds, but it also facilitates a parallel "connectivity" for human residents.
The infographic draws a direct line between "Water & Well-being." The sound and sight of flowing water are not just aesthetic decorations; they are active agents in promoting mental health for walkers. The presence of 180+ species of fungi, ferns, and mosses creates a sensory richness that transforms a simple walk into an interaction with a complex biosphere.
Moreover, the "Curling Pond," a recreational feature since 1888, reminds us that this landscape has always been a social hub. The modern addition of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to manage road runoff is simply the latest layer in a century-long dialogue between the town's infrastructure and the forest's capacity to absorb it.
Conclusion: Towards Nature-Based Governance
The Murray Park diagram challenges us to move beyond seeing NBS as simple "green infrastructure." Instead, it presents a living water system where the social (curling, walking, housing safety) and the ecological (peat formation, flood buffering, amphibian habitats) are mutually constitutive.
As the COEVOLVERS project continues to explore these dynamics, artefacts like this help us visualise the "co-evolution" of our settlements. We are not just managing resources; we are living within a shared, breathing system that requires a governance model as fluid and interconnected as the waters of the Don itself.
This reflection draws on data visualisation from the COEVOLVERS project, funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Framework Programme.
#NatureCulture #COEVOLVERS #NatureBasedSolutions #NatureCulture #SocialResearch #ClimateResilience #HorizonEurope #Sustainability #Scotland #CommunityScience #LivingWaterSystem #GreenInfrastructure #EnvironmentalGovernance #Wetlands #Ecology #LandStewardship