Sustainable Drainage for Nature at Abergavenny Community Centre

Project Details

Sector: Community
Location: Wales
Client: Keep Wales Tidy
Date: August 2020

Situation

• Environmental Charity Keep Wales Tidy launched a program to develop, restore, and enhance nature spaces in urban and peri-urban areas across Wales (April 2020 – February 2021).
• The initiative aimed to improve community access to nature and support groups like community centres and NHS trusts in creating green spaces.
• Abergavenny Community Centre, located in a former school building, experienced potential flooding due to a large, paved area and inadequate rainwater management.
• The Centre promotes community engagement with nature through activities like its gardening club, which focuses on nature-friendly practices.

Task

• Implement a sustainable drainage solution as part of the Sustainable Drainage Systems for Nature package to address flooding risks and enrich the local environment.
• The primary goals were to convert hard, paved areas into green spaces, reduce surface water runoff, enhance water quality, and promote biodiversity.

Action

Installation of Education SuDSPlanters®:

• Two medium-sized, recycled plastic Education SuDSPlanters® were installed and connected to the building’s guttering system, collecting rainwater from approximately 70 square meters of roof area.
• The Education Planters were equipped with lockable pump systems, allowing children to access stored water safely and providing a step for accessibility to small children.

Additional Planter Installations:

• Two additional medium-sized SuDSPlanters® were placed strategically—one at the community centre’s main entrance and another in the community garden.
• The planters created new green areas within previously paved zones, providing seating and a welcoming feature at the main gate to mitigate surface water flooding downstream.

Result

• Flood Risk Reduction: By transforming paved areas into green spaces, the SuDSPlanters® reduced surface water runoff, improving water quality and reducing local flood risk.
• Biodiversity Boost: The planters were populated with native plants to attract and support local wildlife, including pollinators like butterflies and bees, as well as birds and bats.
• Educational Engagement: The planters provided interactive learning opportunities, especially for the gardening club, allowing children to explore sustainable water management in an engaging, hands-on environment.

Additional Highlight

• The Education SuDSPlanter® offered an accessible interactive planting zone for children, featuring a removable and lockable pump to allow safe access to the water reservoir.
• The planters served as both functional and decorative additions, providing seating areas in the community garden and a distinctive entry feature at the main gate, further enhancing the centre’s appeal.

Overall Impact

This project effectively addressed flooding issues, created a natural, green space, and served as a valuable educational resource at Abergavenny Community Centre, demonstrating the multiple benefits of sustainable drainage solutions for communities.