It’s been two whole years since we transformed a patch of tarmac to a thriving verdant rain garden. The bees send their thanks.
The original rain garden was planted (at a fantastic and well attended community planting event) with the following species (kindly and generously donated by Sarah Raven, we remain extremely grateful):
- Hylotelephium telephium‘Yellow Xenox’
- Bronze Fennel
- Verbena Bonariensis
- Penstemon digitalis ‘Dark Towers’
- Salvia Nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’
- Lavandula Angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
- Lupinus ‘Masterpiece’
- Aster x frikartii ‘Monch’
- Agapanthus ‘Purple Cloud’
- Delphinium elatum ‘Faust’
Some species have fared very well (they are all drought and flood resistant), others (like the Verbena) have not. The rain garden has a dedicated team of volunteers who keep it weeded, tidy and free of litter and introduce new plants periodically. Some of these are:
- Aquilegia
- Sweetpeas
- Aster Vasterival
- Euphorbia Wulfenii
- Speedwell
- Geranium Phaem
- 2 types of decorative grass
- Kniphofia
- Allium
- Buddleias (arrived on their own!)
In July this year, the rain garden was joined by a similarly colourful and uplifting mural, painted by our very own Alma Tischlerwood following a successful funding application from Network Rail.
This has been a pioneer project for the St John’s Society, but it will not be the last! We are looking into new sites and funding opportunities as we speak and look forward to sharing some details on this very soon.
So, here’s to many more years of the Thornville Street Rain Garden, and to many more like it in the future as we transform St John’s from grey to green. Enjoy these photos of the rain garden over the seasons.
Thanks again to the amazing team of volunteers who look after the rain garden for all to enjoy – you know who you are!