Manhood Peninsula Partnership > Projects > Selsey Rain Garden « you are here

Selsey Rain Garden

Selsey Rain Garden

Manor Green Park outside the Selsey Centre is prone to becoming waterlogged in low lying areas following heavy rain. The Manor Green Park Rain Garden is being created by Lizard Landscape to help offset the problems that sometimes develop when areas of the playing field flood. The MPP co-ordinated the project and worked with Selsey Town Council in 2015 to obtain funding  from the WSCC Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund. The garden design is by Lizard Landscape who also produced the Sensory Garden in Manor Green Park. Planting and maintenance will be managed by the Manhood Wildlife & Heritage Group.

What is a Rain Garden? In its simplest form, a rain garden is a shallow depression, containing absorbent, yet free draining soil, planted with vegetation that can withstand occasional temporary flooding. Water drains into these man-made basins from impervious areas, like roofs, driveways, or compacted grass. Rain gardens are designed to mimic the natural water retention of undeveloped land, and are more efficient at absorbing excess water from hard surfaces such as garden lawns or playing fields.

Excess rain water drains firstly into what is essentially a flower bed, and continues to drain slowly into the surrounding soil instead of flowing into the drainage system. They can be designed for specific soils and climates.  A Rain Garden also disposes of excess water through transpiration. This is the process where a plant takes up water through its roots, and finally returns water to the atmosphere by evaporation from its leaves.  Native, water tolerant plants are recommended for rain gardens because they are more tolerant of the local climate, soil, and water conditions. Biodiversity gains enormously because they also attract wildlife.

A Rain Garden Guide has been produced by leading experts in the field of water management, and is supported by both the Environment Agency and Southern Water. The guide introduces you to Rain Gardens and talks about why and where you might like to create your own. A whole garden can become a rain garden, and each component of the whole can become a small-scale rain garden in itself.

Follow this link to download the Rain Garden Guide

Follow this link to find out more about Rain Gardens

Environment

Environment

The Manhood Peninsula Partnership was formed in recognition of the challenges the peninsula faces as a result of climate change and the increasing demands on its environment. By recognising the different issues the area faces, its assets and possibilities, and by valuing its distinct and almost unique character on the south coast, the MPP hopes to create opportunities and... Read More»

Drainage & Flood Risk

Drainage & Flood Risk

Drainage and flood risk are increasing problems on the Manhood Peninsula which may worsen considerably with climate change. For local advice see the Chichester District Council web pages for Drainage - Help and Advice. The Manhood Peninsula Partnership (MPP) commissioned a drainage survey of the peninsula from Royal Haskoning DHV during the ESPACE Project in 2006 (see link below) and is working closely... Read More»

Maritime History

Maritime History

For most of its history, Sussex has been an agricultural county. The Chichester area, with the fertile coastal plain for arable and the Downs for sheep and cattle grazing, has long been one of the richest in agricultural terms. Just as the medieval sea trades were based on wool, Chichester Harbour’s sea trade from the 17th to the early... Read More»