“From reedbeds to nature-based solutions:  

25 years of UK constructed wetlands for water quality improvement” 

21 - 22 October 2025  

Coventry University Technology Park, Puma Way, Coventry CV1 2TT 

Lake view park. Image credit: Jake McAllister, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

As the CWA celebrates our silver anniversary since becoming established, we hope to see many new, old and not-so-old faces in Coventry this October! We will reflect on what we have learned from four decades of constructed wetlands in the UK, 25 of those with the support of the CWA to inform design and share best practice. 

CONTRIBUTED TALKS CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: DEADLINE 22^nd August 

OUTLINE PROGRAMME

As customary, the conference will include a site visit (in the rain?) to nearby wetland schemes. On this occassion, we will visit two standout projects: the Hinckley Integrated Constructed Wetland and Lake View Park. 

The Hinckley ICW, developed by Severn Trent as part of their green recovery and water quality improvement programme, is designed to reduce stormwater overflows while enhancing biodiversity through nature-based treatment processes. 

At Lake View Park, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is leading a major restoration of the River Sherbourne, using ‘stage zero’ techniques to reconnect the river with its floodplain. The project has created new wetlands, scrapes, and ponds, delivering benefits for biodiversity, flood resilience, and public amenity. 

The conference also has confirmed Keynotes from the Irish long-term experience with integrated constructed wetlands (surface flow systems) and learning from Poland's experience with the technology beyond sewage, focusing on urban runoff management.  Each of these will set the scene for the day's contributed talks - see below the call for abstracts if you are interested in being a speaker. 

On the second day, we will have an expert Panel on the future of treatment wetlands. With panellist including the Environment Agency and Natural England, this is bound to be an interesting session!

Finally, we have dedicated sessions to foster and mentor our early career professionals. If you are an ECP, please consider submitting a poster with your project(s) to enter a competition for a prize. Even if you don't get first place, you will definitively get to share your work with a friendly audience who is rooting for you to become a wetland champion! If you are no longer in that "early" stage do not worry - instead, please consider volunteering in our mentoring session on Day 2 (more details to follow). 

Invited Keynote Speakers

"Applying Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Environments – Challenges, Limitations, and Insights from Case Studies" by Prof Magdalena Gajewska (Poland)

Professor Magdalena Gajewska is a pioneering expert in nature-based solutions who led the   implementation of Poland's first urban rain gardens in Gdańsk, making it a model city for    sustainable stormwater management. As a full professor at Gdańsk University of Technology  and coordinator of the EcoTech Center, she specializes in urban water management,  treatment wetlands, and SuDS/water sensitive urban design systems. She has led 20+ research projects and served as president of the IWA Specialist Group on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control (2016-2020). Her work directly addresses climate adaptation challenges in cities, combining technical innovation with ecosystem services to create resilient urban water infrastructure.

"Surface flow wetlands and Uisce Éireann: lessons learnt and looking to the future"

 by Thomas Shryane (Ireland).

bio coming soon!

 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - EXTENDED DEADLINE 1ST September

We are inviting contributions from the wetland community, including researchers, practitioners, and project teams, to share the latest insights and experiences. We welcome talks on the following themes: 

• Overcoming challenges and enabling success 

• Turning policy into practice 

• Achieving multiple benefits with constructed wetlands 

• New approaches in wetland design and implementation 

• Wetlands for nutrient control in both rural and urban settings 

• Farm-based wetlands and catchment-scale solutions 

• Resource recovery and circular economy opportunities 

We’re also open to other topics that help advance the understanding or practical use of constructed wetlands. 

We welcome contributions that are supported by data (i.e., no commercial pitches please!) to enable inspiring discussions in a friendly environment. If you have new research or case studies that you would like to share, please send your submission to events@constructedwetland.co.uk with ABSTRACT in the subject title. 

Please include the following information: 

• Speaker(s) name, job title and organisation. 

• Title of your contribution 

• A brief summary of the scope of your presentation and key learning points (150 words). 

• If you prefer a poster or oral presentation 

ACCOMMODATION

If you wish to book accommodation, there are 60 bedrooms on hold until 1st Sept at £75 B&B pp pn at the next door IBIS. Please contact the hotel directly on md.sagor@accor.com or 02476 250 500 and quote the CWA conference / Oct21 for the dates 21 and 22nd October.