91Èȱ¬

Following recent wet summers the management of excess water in the garden is a subject close to many gardeners' hearts. The damp Yorkshire climate provided the Leeds team with ideal conditions for a 'rain garden'.

For The HESCO Garden they have recreated a stone cottage in the shelter of a wooded, rocky landscape, complete with a typically rainy day. Pulses of water run from the cottage roof through stormwater planters and down into the garden. The central, bowl-shaped area contains the main rain garden features and planting will represent both moisture loving plants and moisture tolerant plants that will survive occasional flooding.

The shape of the garden and its ability to contain and allow gradual percolation of stormwater has the potential to contribute to flood alleviation while at the same time providing a home to colourful, naturalistic planting and abundant wildlife.

"The wet summers and subsequent floods of the last two years inspired us to bring an American-style rain garden to Chelsea this year. Our garden has a simple message, 'How can sustainable drainage techniques be adapted to the domestic garden situation?'"