The Water Saving Garden, sponsored by Affinity Water

This contemporary courtyard space has water saving measures at its heart, featuring interconnected sleek planters fed with rainwater.
 
The garden is a love letter to the Chilterns’ iconic chalk streams, highlighting the urgent need to save and re-use rainwater, a cause championed by Affinity Water’s Save Our Streams campaign.

At a glance:

Who is this garden for? 
A domestic courtyard garden.
Where is the garden set?  
South East England.
Who or what is the design inspiration?
Chilterns’ chalk streams.

The sound of running water and timber walkways among lush, restful planting give a nod to the landscape of the chalk streams. With temperatures hitting record highs, drought and hosepipe bans, the effects of climate change have started to hit home in recent summers. The design features many ingenious solutions blended into a contemporary garden setting.

Key sustainability points

• Bamboo decking is natural, low-maintenance and lightweight, sequesters carbon and is rapidly renewable.
• The fibreglass planters are made from sand (silica), a non-depleting substance. Fibreglass does not require routine upkeep, repair, or replacement due to its inherent long lasting properties. It can also be recycled.
• Rain or grey-water harvesting, storage and re-use systems installed.

Relocation

The sponsor (Affinity Water) is running a competition amongst its customers, with one lucky customer to win the complete garden to be installed at the location of their choice (subject to Ts and Cs).