A garden for a rainy day
15 July 2010
A rain garden with pools, cascades and streams designed to absorb flash floods in wet winters and conserve water in times of drought is being created at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes, south-west London.
The garden, funded by the Royal Bank of Canada, is designed by Dr Nigel Dunnett, who has pioneered the development of sustainable gardens. It absorbs rainwater by channelling runoff into large planted hollows and dry stream beds, with plants such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' carefully chosen to withstand both flooding and also drought when the 'puddles' dry out again.
"A lot of discussion about flood control is done by engineers," says Dr Dunnett. "The reason for doing this rain garden is to make it a permanent focus for discussion."
The rain garden can be seen at the London Wetland Centre from the end of this month, with an official opening in September.
More about wetlands
Gardening on wet soils
Creating a bog garden