According to the Met Office, England saw a record amount of rainfall in the 18 months to March, with about 1,695.9mm of rain falling from October 2022 to March 2024, the highest level since records began in 1836.
Rain gardens are part of the plans for Queens Gardens, however, what do we mean by a rain garden and what are they designed to do?
What is a rain garden?
A rain garden, also known as a sustainable drainage system (SuDS), is designed in a way to collect, store and slow down the movement of water running off hard surfaces such as areas of paving, following a heavy downpour.
This is done by planting a low maintenance, wildlife space encouraging habitat creation.
Rain gardens slow the water flow and channel it away from drains and sewers which are sometimes not large enough to cope with the additional influx of water.
As well as managing flood risk, rain gardens also help reduce pollution and enhance biodiversity.
Which plants are the best choice for a rain garden?
Rain gardens are planted with a wide range of plants that can withstand short periods of waterlogging and drought. The more drought-tolerant plants are used towards the edges and higher sections of ground where waterlogging at any point is least likely.
The beds are shaped to collect water in depressions and drain off slowly, so they do not to overwhelm sewer systems during very heavy rainfall.
The plants in these areas are tolerant to high levels of rainfall for short times so area happy in this environment.
Most species within these areas also offer ecological value for birds and pollinators/ insects.
Once established their strong root systems will ensure the soil is stable during heavy periods of rainfall, so that the soil is not washed away.
Why have rain gardens in Queens Gardens?
Rain gardens will feature in a prominent position in the city centre and it helps celebrate our culture and heritage with water, given the fact Queens Gardens was a dock.
Rain gardens help alleviate the risk of flooding in the area by reducing the amount of water flow that enters the drainage and sewer systems.
Water sensitive design is something our landscape architects strive to accommodate within all projects as part of a range of design principles designed to combat the impact of climate change.
Rain gardens are a highly effective design feature that limits the risk of flooding within any given site, as well as reducing the impact of excessive run off down-stream which will reduce the risk of flooding.
What are the benefits of rain gardens?
- They can absorb up to 30 per cent more surface water than a lawn
- Uses clever water storage solutions making it less reliant on mains water for irrigation and in a better position to survive droughts
- Low maintenance and need limited artificial irrigation once established
- Offers good opportunities to use plants that can cope with a variety of moisture conditions from droughts to floods
- Increased diversity of species that will attract insects, bugs, butterflies, bees and birds, and provide additional seasonal variation/interest
- They are visual and sensory, making them beneficial for people too
- Helps reduce pollution - rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90 per cent of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80 per cent of sediments from rainwater run-off
Here’s an interesting piece on how to create a garden that can sustain a large amount of rainfall. Read here.
