The Flood Resilient Garden epitomises the vital intersection of functionality and aesthetics in landscape design, addressing the urgent need for flood mitigation in the UK, where one in four homes faces the risk of flooding.

This visionary project, a collaborative effort between Flood Re, environmental expert Dr. Ed Barsley and garden designer Naomi Slade, is a practical blueprint for reducing flood risks while enhancing property aesthetics. Through intelligent design and strategic planting, the garden demonstrates how residential areas can effectively manage water, thus minimising the potential for flood damage.

Integral to the Flood Resilient Garden is our ‘Build Back Better’ initiative, which encourages homeowners to incorporate flood resilience measures into their properties proactively. This scheme supports the installation of adaptations worth up to £10,000, ensuring homes recover more swiftly from flooding and stand better protected against future incidents.

Learn about key features of our garden which you can apply to your outdoor space

Dense planting slows the flow, while water is also captured and stored for later use. After heavy rain, the elevated deck and mound – linked by a bridge over a central swale – provide both habitable places for people, and well-drained soil for the plants that need it.

The swale forms a stream, channelling rainwater into a feature pond where it can gradually soak away, while large tanks double as ornamental pools, creating a reserve of water that can be discharged ahead of further rain, using smart-technology.

The planting is green and lush, with pops of jewel-colours, yet it is as tough as it is beautiful, and appropriate for the range of soil conditions. A large quince tree demonstrates the value of slopes for drainage, as fruit trees dislike wet soil, while a range of pond and bog plants are well adapted to varying degrees of water inundation.

Tab and drag to explore the garden

  1. Shrubs/climbers

    Shrubs/climbers

    Shrubs and climbing roses on well-drained ground next to slatted wooden fence

  2. Shrubs/small trees

    Shrubs/small trees

    Shrubs and small trees underplanted with shade-lovers; raked log pile/wildlife escape-route

  3. The fruit tree

    The fruit tree

    Substantial quince tree, underplanted with tough and trample tolerant plants, and other species that enjoy good drainage

  4. Steps

    Steps

    Reclaimed stone steps and stepping stones provide a lower level route around the garden

  5. Mixed planting

    Mixed planting

    Textured mixed planting and structural shrubs on steep slope

  6. The pond

    The pond

    Pond doubles as a sump to collect water and slowly allow it to drain away

  7. The stream

    The stream

    Ephemeral stream runs over rocks and pebbles during wet weather, raked gradient allows further water storage capacity as pond fills

  8. The bridge

    The bridge

    Raised wooden bridge over the central gully enables higher parts of the garden to be accessed during flooding

  9. The swale

    The swale

    Swale channels rain and flood water down the garden, while plants slow the flow

  10. Willows

    Willows

    Pollarded Salix in damp ground

  11. The patio

    The patio

    Reclaimed stone patio: designed to flood and drain without damage, bedded into a permeable substrate with gravel in gaps; furniture is heavy and water resistant

  12. Wall planters

    Wall planters

    Wall planters and elevated storage against fence

  13. Raised edibles

    Raised edibles

    Ornamental edibles in raised planter are not contaminated by dirty water

  14. Smart rainwater tank

    Smart rainwater tank

    Substantial rainwater storage tank captures water which then overflows into garden via a series of pools; smart-technology allows remote drain-down ahead of predicted rainfall

  15. Rain chains

    Rain chains

    Rain chains provide sound and movement as they channel water into an ornamental pool/metal storage tank

  16. Perennial planting

    Perennial planting

    Sunny, well-drained bank planted with cheerful perennials, grasses and shrubs

  17. The pergola

    The pergola

    Pergola provides shade and channels water from roof onto rain-chains

  18. Flood barrier

    Flood barrier

    Deployable flood barrier

  19. Extra wide guttering

    Extra wide guttering

    Wider guttering can handle a larger volume of water without overflowing

Click on an area of the Flood Resilient Garden below to explore what wonderful plants are used

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Plant zones

  • Raised mount
  • Gully
  • Shady bank
  • Pond
  • Bog
  • Sunny bank
  • Deck

Raised mount zone

  • Quince
  • Climbing Roses
  • Acer palmatum sp.
  • Compost bin
  • Ivy

Gully zone

  • Meadow Style Grasses
  • Ranunculus acris
  • Trifolium sp.
  • Leucanthemum vulgare
  • Angelica sylvestris
  • Trollius europaeus
  • Foxgloves

Shady bank zone

  • Hydrangea paniculata
  • Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’
  • Geum rivale
  • Geranium phaeum
  • Anthriscus sylvestris
  • Astrantia
  • Lilium martagon
  • Tiarella
  • Aquilegia
  • Poppy sp.
  • Ilex sp.
  • Carex sp.

Pond zone

  • Lily

Bog zone

  • Astilbe
  • Irises
  • Lychnis flos-cuculi
  • Caltha palustris
  • Rodgersia
  • Myosotis scorpioides
  • Mentha Aquatica

Sunny bank zone

  • Hydrangea quercifolia
  • Salvia caradonna
  • Rosa sp.
  • Geum
  • Geraniums
  • Helenium
  • Poppy Sp.
  • Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’

Deck zone

  • Alpine strawberries
  • Chives
  • Oreganum ‘Kent Beauty’

Full Plant List

  • Acer palmatum dissectum
  • Acer palmatum Osakazuki
  • Actaea simplex ‘James Compton’
  • Agapanthus ‘Armourette Blue’
  • Alchemilla erythropoda
  • Allium schoenoprasum
  • Aloysia citrodora
  • Ammi majus
  • Anagallis tenella
  • Angelica sylvestris
  • Asplenium scolopendrum
  • Astrantia Roma
  • Atheryum felix-femina
  • Baldellia ranunculoides
  • Blechnum spicant
  • Briza media
  • Calla palustris
  • Caltha palustris
  • Caltha palustris Polypetela
  • Cardamine pratensis
  • Carex grayi
  • Carex Ribbon Falls
  • Cirsium heterophyllum
  • Climbing rose ‘Night Owl’
  • Cornus alba ‘Keselringii’
  • Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’
  • Cornus alternifolia ‘Golden Shadows’
  • Cydonia oblonga
  • Cyrtomium fortunei
  • Deschampsia cespitosa
  • Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’
  • Digitalis purpurea -Suttons Apricot
  • Dryopteris Coreomontana
  • Dryopteris erythrosora
  • Erigeron karvinskianus
  • Eschsolzia Ivory Castle
  • Euphorbia myrsinites
  • Farfugium japonicum
  • Fennel
  • Festuca amethystina
  • Filipendula ulmaria
  • Fragaria vesca
  • Gaura lindheimeri
  • Geranium phaeum ‘Lily Lovell’
  • Geranium pyrenacium ‘Bill Wallis’
  • Geranium sanguineum
  • Geum rivulare
  • Geum rivulare
  • Geum Totally tangerine and
  • Gillenia trifoliata
  • Gratiola officinalis
  • Hedera helix ‘Wonder’
  • Hedera helix ‘Arborescens’
  • Heuchera ‘Emerald Queen’
  • Hydrangea petiolaris
  • Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’
  • Iris robusta ‘Dark Aura’
  • Iris sibirica ‘Blue King
  • Juncus ensifolius
  • Knautia ‘Red Knight’
  • Lychnis flos-cuculi
  • Mazus reptans
  • Mentha cervina
  • Menyanthes trifoliata
  • Molinia caerulea ‘Heidelbraut’
  • Myosotis scorpioides
  • Nepeta faassenii
  • Nymphaea ‘Xiafei’
  • Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Kyota’
  • Papaver ‘Lauren’s Grape’
  • Parthenocissus henryana
  • Plantago coronopus
  • Polystichum munitum
  • Potentilla palustris
  • Ranunculus acris ‘Flore Pleno’
  • Ranunculus flammula
  • Rodgersia ‘Bronze Peacock’
  • Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum
  • Rosa mutabilis
  • Rose Westerland’
  • Salix alba var vitellina ‘Britzensis’ (syn. S. alba ‘Chermesina’)
  • Salix lapponum (downy willow)
  • Salix phylicfolia (tea-leaved willow)
  • Salvia nemoriosa ‘Lubecca’
  • Sambucus nigra ‘Black lace’
  • Sarcococca
  • Saxifraga x urbium – london pride
  • Scirpus cernuus
  • Stachys officinalis
  • Stewartia pseudocamellia
  • Taxus (ball)
  • Thymus serpillus ‘Magic Carpet’
  • Tiarella
  • Trifolium rubens
  • Trollius ‘Cheddar’
  • Trollius europaeus
  • Tubaghia ‘Fairy Star’
  • Tulbaghia violacea
  • Verbascum ‘Petra’
  • Viburnum juddii
  • Viburnum plicatum ‘Cascade’
  • Vitis

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See the Flood Resilient Garden build in action

The design

Designed by Dr Ed Barsley and Naomi Slade, The Flood Re Flood Resilient Garden is designed to be both a relatable enjoyable and beautiful space, and to help reduce flood risk and recover quickly after periods of heavy rainfall.

Flooding is a growing issue in the UK. One in four homes is at risk of damage to property and gardens, and the associated physical and psychological trauma. The Flood Re Flood Resilient Garden will be inspiring, aesthetically pleasing, and full of useful ideas to future-proof our gardens and address the disruption that flooding brings.

Have you been affected by flooding?

Following a flood, eligible customers with a policy that features our Build Back Better initiative can receive up to £10,000 as part of their insurance claim. This fund is designed to support home improvements that exceed basic repairs, focusing on enhancing the property’s resilience or resistance against future floods.
Find out more

* Several of the insurance providers we work with offer this additional premium but it is not yet standard and the offering varies – please check with your insurer and on our Build Back Better page to find out more

Follow us on Instagram for garden updates: @flood_resilient_garden

Great to see the #FloodResilientGarden starting to take shape in the grounds of @Howberypark.

@belderboslandscapes @edbarsley @teds_uk @waterartisans @the_rhs
#RHSChelsea #BuildBackBetter #FloodResilience

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Great to see the #FloodResilientGarden starting to take shape in the grounds of @Howberypark. @belderboslandscapes @edbarsley @teds_uk @waterartisans @the_rhs #RHSChelsea #BuildBackBetter #FloodResilience

Great to see the #FloodResilientGarden starting to take shape in the grounds of @Howberypark.

@belderboslandscapes @edbarsley @teds_uk @waterartisans @the_rhs
#RHSChelsea #BuildBackBetter #FloodResilience ...

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The forever home for the Flood Resilient Garden is going to be created in the grounds of @Howberypark near Wallingford in Oxfordshire.

Sustainability is at the heart of the park, which is owned by HR Wallingford, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people live and work sustainably with water. With acres of mature parkland and a riverside setting, the park is committed to managing its beautiful landscape with care.

The park has a long-term environmental and biodiversity programme, and runs nature-based events for the local community. It has a solar park and none of its waste goes to landfill.

There are more than 50 organisation based on the park of varying sizes, from start-up companies to the Environment Agency. The grounds and Café are open to the public, and visitors will be able to appreciate the garden during park opening hours free of charge.

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The forever home for the Flood Resilient Garden is going to be created in the grounds of @Howberypark near Wallingford in Oxfordshire. Sustainability is at the heart of the park, which is owned by HR Wallingford, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people live and work sustainably with water. With acres of mature parkland and a riverside setting, the park is committed to managing its beautiful landscape with care. The park has a long-term environmental and biodiversity programme, and runs nature-based events for the local community. It has a solar park and none of its waste goes to landfill. There are more than 50 organisation based on the park of varying sizes, from start-up companies to the Environment Agency. The grounds and Café are open to the public, and visitors will be able to appreciate the garden during park opening hours free of charge.

The forever home for the Flood Resilient Garden is going to be created in the grounds of @Howberypark near Wallingford in Oxfordshire.

Sustainability is at the heart of the park, which is owned by HR Wallingford, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people live and work sustainably with water. With acres of mature parkland and a riverside setting, the park is committed to managing its beautiful landscape with care.

The park has a long-term environmental and biodiversity programme, and runs nature-based events for the local community. It has a solar park and none of its waste goes to landfill.

There are more than 50 organisation based on the park of varying sizes, from start-up companies to the Environment Agency. The grounds and Café are open to the public, and visitors will be able to appreciate the garden during park opening hours free of charge. ...

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10 weeks on from Chelsea Flower Show and here are 50 of our favourite photos of the #FloodResilientGarden

#RHSChelsea

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10 weeks on from Chelsea Flower Show and here are 50 of our favourite photos of the #FloodResilientGarden #RHSChelsea

10 weeks on from Chelsea Flower Show and here are 50 of our favourite photos of the #FloodResilientGarden

#RHSChelsea ...

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From grass to the #FloodResilientGarden, watch the fascinating build process from #RHSChelsea in full! 🌿💦

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Open
From grass to the #FloodResilientGarden, watch the fascinating build process from #RHSChelsea in full! 🌿💦

From grass to the #FloodResilientGarden, watch the fascinating build process from #RHSChelsea in full! 🌿💦 ...

35 1

One week today since we launch the #FloodResilientGarden at a soggy #RHSChelsea 2024!

The garden has now started the journey to its forever home at @howberypark and we can’t wait to share the updates with you 🌿

Check out the link in our bio for more about the future of the Flood Resilient Garden and follow along here for updates!

@the_rhs @naomisladegardening @edbarsley @belderboslandscapes @burgonandball @dalefootcomposts @hortus_loci @howberypark @new_wood_trees @plantsforponds.co.uk @teds_uk @thorndownpaints @vegplotting @waterartisans @wildhaweswater @hellofurn @neptunehomeofficial @andreajonesgardenphotography

#RHSChelsea #FloodResilience #ChelseaFlowerShow #ShowGarden #PlantingDesign #GardensForAll #PlantLove #ExtremeWeather #PlantsAreMagic #Sustainability #PlantsPeoplePlace #UrbanGarden #WaterTolerantPlants #GardeningIdeas #ClimateChange #GardenInspiration #YearRoundGardening #ResilientPlants #RightPlantRightPlace #FloodGarden #FloodPrevention #ReduceFlooding #UrbanPlanting #SustainableSpaces #Flood #GreenSpaces #SustainableUrbanDrainage

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Open
One week today since we launch the #FloodResilientGarden at a soggy #RHSChelsea 2024! The garden has now started the journey to its forever home at @howberypark and we can’t wait to share the updates with you 🌿 Check out the link in our bio for more about the future of the Flood Resilient Garden and follow along here for updates! @the_rhs @naomisladegardening @edbarsley @belderboslandscapes @burgonandball @dalefootcomposts @hortus_loci @howberypark @new_wood_trees @plantsforponds.co.uk @teds_uk @thorndownpaints @vegplotting @waterartisans @wildhaweswater @hellofurn @neptunehomeofficial @andreajonesgardenphotography #RHSChelsea #FloodResilience #ChelseaFlowerShow #ShowGarden #PlantingDesign #GardensForAll #PlantLove #ExtremeWeather #PlantsAreMagic #Sustainability #PlantsPeoplePlace #UrbanGarden #WaterTolerantPlants #GardeningIdeas #ClimateChange #GardenInspiration #YearRoundGardening #ResilientPlants #RightPlantRightPlace #FloodGarden #FloodPrevention #ReduceFlooding #UrbanPlanting #SustainableSpaces #Flood #GreenSpaces #SustainableUrbanDrainage

One week today since we launch the #FloodResilientGarden at a soggy #RHSChelsea 2024!

The garden has now started the journey to its forever home at @howberypark and we can’t wait to share the updates with you 🌿

Check out the link in our bio for more about the future of the Flood Resilient Garden and follow along here for updates!

@the_rhs @naomisladegardening @edbarsley @belderboslandscapes @burgonandball @dalefootcomposts @hortus_loci @howberypark @new_wood_trees @plantsforponds.co.uk @teds_uk @thorndownpaints @vegplotting @waterartisans @wildhaweswater @hellofurn @neptunehomeofficial @andreajonesgardenphotography

#RHSChelsea #FloodResilience #ChelseaFlowerShow #ShowGarden #PlantingDesign #GardensForAll #PlantLove #ExtremeWeather #PlantsAreMagic #Sustainability #PlantsPeoplePlace #UrbanGarden #WaterTolerantPlants #GardeningIdeas #ClimateChange #GardenInspiration #YearRoundGardening #ResilientPlants #RightPlantRightPlace #FloodGarden #FloodPrevention #ReduceFlooding #UrbanPlanting #SustainableSpaces #Flood #GreenSpaces #SustainableUrbanDrainage ...

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Creators

Ed Bartley

Dr Ed Barsley The Environmental Design Studio (TEDS)

Ed Bartley

Dr Ed Barsley The Environmental Design Studio (TEDS)

Dr Ed Barsley is a designer, author, artist and entrepreneur. He is an expert in environmental design, with a particular interest in developing strategies to improve the resilience of communities and the natural environment. He is founder of  ‘The Environmental Design Studio’(TEDS) an award-winning practice which won the Sunday Times ‘Resilient Home’ competition with their design of the ‘Home for All Seasons’. In January 2020, Ed’s book ‘Retrofitting for Flood Resilience: A Guide to Building & Community Design’ was published by the RIBA and showcases hundreds of strategies for resilience that span the catchment, community, street and plot scale.

Ed has delivered keynotes at international conferences and given talks on climate resilient design at SXSW and Glastonbury festival. He is a fellow of the RSA and a member of DEFRA’s roundtable on flooding and since 2018 has been running the RIBA’s core lecture series on flood resilient design as well as helping develop the UK’s national training on Property Flood Resilience.

During his career, Ed has lived and worked in China, Denmark, India, Sri Lanka and the UK. He has experience at a variety of scales, from strategic masterplanning right down to 1:1 building construction. Alongside running his practice, Ed has been involved with a number of Research Council-funded studies, including his PhD from the University of Cambridge which focused on climate resilient environments and the communication of risk.

In 2020, Ed launched the ‘Hazard and Hope’ initiative, to inform and inspire adaptation and resilience to a changing climate and followed this up by creating the ‘Climate Creatives Challenge‘, an international design competition supporting new and novel approaches to climate communication.

FloodRe

Flood Re

FloodRe

Flood Re

Flood Re is a joint initiative between the Government and the insurance industry that exists to promote the affordability and availability of flood insurance for homes across the UK. Our operation promotes a competitive insurance market that customers can take advantage of. Flood Re does not set consumer prices – this remains a decision for insurers to make. Insurers can place the flood risk element of domestic property insurance with us at a premium linked to property Council Tax bands. Flood Re sits in the background, with the purchase of the policy and the process of making a claim being unchanged.

As of April 2022 we launched Build Back Better which is designed to reduce the cost and impact of future floods by including property resilience measures as part of flood repairs. Build Back Better offers homeowners the chance to install Property Flood Resilience measures up to the value of £10,000 when repairing their properties after a flood. This way the next time the area floods their home will be better prepared to keep as much of the water out as possible. Measures can also be installed so that when water does enter it is easier, quicker and safer for families to clean up and move back in – often in a number of days rather than many months.

Naomi Slade

Naomi Slade

Naomi Slade

Naomi Slade

Naomi Slade is a leading journalist, author and designer specialising in gardening, environment and lifestyle. A regular contributor to magazines including Gardens Illustrated and RHS The Garden, she has a long-running column in Garden News magazine and has written ten books, including RHS The Winter Garden and best-selling Hydrangeas. The next in her internationally successful series of illustrated monographs, Chrysanthemums, is out in August 2024.

With extensive garden shows and events experience gained over more than 25 years, Naomi often incorporates themes of sustainability into her designs. She has won three silver-gilt medals for educational exhibits at Chelsea Flower Show, and also enjoys the challenge of a conceptual garden, gaining Gold and Best in Show at the National Gardening Show, for punk-themed ‘Never Mind the Hollyhocks’. In 2018 she staged a well-received feature highlighting the Wisley Winter Walk, at the RHS Early Spring Show. 

Winner of the Garden Media Guild Practical Journalist of the Year Award in 2022, Naomi has also presented on BBC Gardeners’ World.

www.naomislade.com

News

Must have plants for a flood resilient garden

Everyone likes to get out into the garden during Spring, so when you hit the garden centres and nurseries to stock up on goodies, make sure you take a shopping list of plants that can help you become more flood resilient. These

Posted on 1st May, 2024

How your garden can be the first line of defence against flooding

Home is where the heart is, but with one in four properties in the UK at risk of flooding – and not just by the coast and rivers, but in urban areas too – protecting our homes and gardens has never been more urgent.

https://www.kentlive.news/special-features/how-your-garden-can-first-9245509

Flood Re’s Flood Resilient Garden to take root at Howbery Business Park

Our Flood Resilient Garden is to be permanently rehomed to Howbery Park after this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, subject to planning approval. Howbery is a particularly fitting venue for the Flood Re: Flood Resilient Garden, given that it is owned by HR Wallingford,

Posted on 17th Apr, 2024
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