Digging up trees and digging more drains isn't preventing floods.

In his latest Guardian article, George Monbiot investigates a 'major research programme, which produced the following astonishing results: water sinks into the soil under trees at 67 times the rate at which it sinks into the soil under grass. The roots of the trees provide channels down which the water flows, deep into the ground. The soil there becomes a sponge, a reservoir which sucks up water and then releases it slowly.'

RESTORE's Rivers by Design guide to river restoration for land-use professionals has had a few minor changes, including an update to the table showing the benefits of river restoration in the planning and development process.

The guide shows the crucial role planners, architects and developers the crucial role they can play in river restoratation. The document explains the contexty and need for river restoration and provides guidance on planing projects to make sure sustainable development is achieved.

Over 70 representatives from London’s planning and architecture sector joined RESTORE for an afternoon on the Thames in August.  The event was co-hosted and organised with New London Architecture, who work to promote London's architecture, planning and development sectors.

We have been working on our RiverWiki click on the link to see the change  http://bit.ly/14rG6PA  460  river restoration case studies from 24 European countries.