Sustainable Rainscape Update
New Rain Garden in Priory GardensA garden bed in Priory Gardens, adjacent to the Priory car park off Figgins Lane has been transformed into a rain garden.
Put simply, a rain garden is a shallow area of ground or dip which receives run-off from roofs and other hard surfaces. They prevent, and manage, surface water run-off, reducing the strain on overwhelmed drainage systems.
The car park regularly floods in heavy rain, causing soil erosion where the water falls towards Priory Gardens. Both drains are frequently blocked and therefore ineffective. Six evenly spaced inlets (with one positioned next to each drain) allow the water to flow into the adjoining bed. The kerb stones are cut and sharp angles on the corners chamfered off.
This rain garden is just one of a number of collaborative rainwater projects the Town Council are working on with Action for the River Kennet (ARK) here in Marlborough.
Our thanks to members of our grounds team and Emma and Dave from ARK for the groundwork, Aster Group for supporting this project and Iain at T H White for kindly donating the gravel. All round teamwork!
You may also be interested in our recent article Two years after Storm Henk