Linzell Rain Planters
4
The Pitch
Problem statement
Linzell Garden is a green space, which is part of a housing estate on a polluted, busy, noisy road. Residents and organisations have come together to make the garden more friendly to the environment and community over the last three years. There is a lot of local interest in 'greening' the streets to make them friendlier to wildlife and also more resilient in the face of climate change. As climate changes we are seeing more cloudburst type rainfall, with heavy deluges that overwhelm our drainage network, causing local surface water flooding. These rainstorms are often followed by long dry periods.
Solution
The goal is to make the garden not only a pleasant recreational space but as an example of sustainability for local residents to copy. We would like to build water and waste-saving processes. The first would be two rain planters, which would collect water off a roof into rain water planters. They will slow the flow of storm water, catch what we need to water the planters and create space for water to soak into the ground slowly instead of rushing off down drains to prevent pooling and flooding. The increase in plants would also help with lowering pollution levels. The planters will be looked after as part of the garden’s regular maintenance – at the moment done by the E5 Postcode Gardener.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Cordwainers Grow, is an educational/environmental organisation which has delivered workshops, courses and community events over the past seven years. We set up and run a network of 71 community gardens in the borough, providing support, skills exchange and advocacy for green spaces whilst partnering with the council, charities and local residents. One member of our organisation has been working as the E5 Postcode Gardener in the area - and in Linzell - for the past three years.. More recently she has done training in rain planters with Raingarden UK.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| 2 x 2400mm Planters – including pipes, soil, plants, sand etc. | £900 |
| Labour to replace roof of lean-to and install guttering and pipes. | £300 |
| Project management 24 + voluntary hours | £600 |
| Refreshments for the volunteer days | £60 |
| Water butt | £70 |
| Extra gravel for soak-away | £8 |
| Plants for street planting | £60 |
Beneficiaries
1,000 people
Expected impact
Benefits of plantersThe planters will• Slow the flow to help prevent flash flooding.• Improve the quality of water entering rivers by reducing surface run-off.• Reduce sewer overload at peak rainfall. • Increase biodiversity by mixed planting. They are also simple to create. The local residents will, through three volunteer days, come together and learn about how to make their community environmentally resilient. Some will be able to take these skills away to build their own rain planters at home or even in the streets and estates nearby.