Funded by

Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge

Community Centre

Rain Garden

Coalbrookdale Community Centre Raingarden was created by community residents and

businesses – with support from Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency.

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Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge Community Centre Rain Garden

Maintenance Schedule

This maintenance schedule has been created as a guide for current and future users of the community centre and is intended to support its enjoyment for many years to come. The enclosed list is not exhaustive and is intended as a guide only. This is a community site and therefore the garden is likely to change and develop over the years according to local needs.

The Rain Garden was created as part of the Depave initiative within the Love Your River Telford project and with funding from the Environment Agency.

Depave encourages communities to replace areas of impermeable surfaces such as tarmac with beautiful and functional green spaces, bringing social and environmental benefits. Allowing water to soak through the ground rather than running off those impermeable surfaces and collecting contaminants improves water quality. Decreasing the water flow to the drainage system can reduce flooding.

Volunteers of all ages from 6 to 60+ worked together at Coalbrookdale to create the raingarden, removing the unused area of hardstanding and laying soil and wildflower turf all by hand. Rain water is diverted to a shallow channel called a swale which is lined with plants and pebbles. These slow the flow of the water and allow it to filter slowly away. Water is also diverted into planters, which are filled with plant species including perennials attractive to pollinators.

It is hoped that Coalbrookdale Community Centre Rain Garden will inspire visitors to Depave at home. Simply replacing a section of hardstanding with a garden and harvesting rainwater from the roof can make a real difference for people, wildlife, and the environment.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust June 2017

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A plan of the Raingarden showing the various features

A number of features have been integrated into the rain garden which include- New down pipes which feed into three new planters. A trellis was fixed into the recess area and a plater placed in front. Over time his will develop in to a “green wall” which will cover the newer bricks and improve the aesthetics of the front of the building. The path was re laid with original and additional reclaimed bricks to give access to the garden and fire exit. A reproduction Coalbrookdale bench was installed for visitors comfort and to aid enjoyment of the garden. Low flowering wildflower turf was selected specifically to create an attractive and functional area which is also perfect for pollinating insects. A swale was created which is fed by the far right down pipe through a spout. The swale is laid with pebbles and plants which allows water to slowly drain away through the soil while being naturally

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filtered and reducing the pressure on the local drainage system. A liner underneath the drain spout protects the path bricks and wall from the rain water Either side of the swale are small berms (the heaped soil) which keep the water inside the swale. One side is planted with turf while the other has plants and has been seeded with a wildflower mix. In case of a major weather event a liner under the soil will protect the wall and an underground french drain will divert any excess water to the original drain. A specialist liner reduces the risk of knotweed invading the garden from the adjacent area of land. A BBQ with a stainless steel coal tray and food rack was installed using reclaimed bricks. Edible herbs were planted against the wall behind the BBQ (Please ensure you are completely confident of the plant identification before using). The scouts installed a bug hotel which will also encourage other wildlife by supplying a food source. The following general maintenance is recommended to prolong the communities’ enjoyment of the Rain garden area –

Pruning and weeding of the swale, planters and green wall.

Weeding of the path and gravel area.

Replacement of any failing plants – particularly through the first two years.

Addition of compost or mulch to planted areas annually.

The Cherry tree that hangs over the wall and swale will need occasional pruning

Specific maintenance instructions have not been included for individual plants within the garden. The planting regime is likely to change over the years at the discretion of the community volunteers according to their horticultural expertise and preferences.

Wild Flower Lawn

The lawn can be kept mown to between 1½ to 4 inches high or even higher if preferred.

Approximately once a month during the summer strim the lawn and remove the cuttings with a rake. All flowers in the turf are perennials and will re-flower following mowing after approximately 7-10 days.

The final cut of the year in autumn should be done shorter than 2 inches to leave the lawn quite tight and remove the cuttings to ensure good flowering resumes in the spring.

It is important to remove leaf fall off the wild flower turf at the end of the year, using a leaf blower is the easiest method.

After 3-4 years the orchids should begin to appear and will flower once each summer.

BBQ

After each use the removal of coals from the lower tray is recommended once cool.

Cleaning of stainless steel racks with hot soapy water. Stubborn burnt on food deposits can be removed by gentle use of a wire brush.

The racks would be best stored inside or within the BBQ if a tarpaulin cover is used.

Please note – usual care should be taken when using BBQ’s to ensure food is cooked thoroughly and to avoid burns from the hot surfaces.

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Guttering

Cleaning out the gutters is best done annually, during late autumn/early winter when most of the leaves have fallen from trees. There is a “cage” running along the top of the guttering which should reduce the risk of the down pipes becoming blocked. Any debris can therefore easily be removed using gloves and a bucket.

Please take all usual precautions when using a ladder for your safety and avoid placing it against the actual guttering.

Approximately every 10 years the guttering may need repainting. First remove any rust or loose paint with a wire brush before using a paint suitable for external cast iron. There are numerous websites with detailed instructions on the best technique.

Bench

The garden seat is a reproduction of the original Coalbrookdale Horsechestnut design from 1870. Minimal maintenance should be required as the bench was created from aluminium with a powder coating which results in a hard, weather resistance seal. This means it should not rust and so an occasional wipe down with a damp cloth should suffice. The slats are created from iroko hardwood.

Path

Reclaimed bricks are softer than modern house bricks and should be treated with extra care, therefore jet washing is not recommended. The path will need to be weeded regularly and the bricks can be brushed with an outdoor brush. The bricks are held in place by each other and over time they will continue to wear and bed into the sand they are placed on. This is in keeping with the original look for this property.

Planters

The planters are made of fibre glass and should not require any maintenance, a damp cloth could be used for cleaning and hard knocks should be avoided in case of chipping. Each planter has holes drilled into the bottom with stones placed over them to avoid the soil blocking the holes. In case of a major weather event any excess water that the soil cannot hold will drain out into the pebbled border that runs to the swale. The wall has been coated with a waterproof sealant.

Swale & Berms

Check the berms (the two sloped areas of heaped soil either side of the swale) for erosion and add soil if necessary. The soil will flatten slightly over time as it settles; this is normal and not likely to cause any issues as the liner will continue to protect the wall.

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Suppliers

Rockery stone, cobbles,

pebbles & paving - http://www.tafs-garden.co.uk

Trellis - https://www.harrodhorticultural.com

Muro Brito Fibreglass Planters - Ambico - https://www.amazon.co.uk

Wildflower Turf - https://www.wildflowerlawnsandmeadows.com

BBQ coal tray and food rack - https://www.sunshinebbqs.com

Glossary

Erosion – The wearing away of soil – in this case by water.

Berm – A moist depression of land usually lined with stones or vegetation for the purpose of the diversion and filtration of water

Green Wall/ living wall/vertical garden – where vegetation is encouraged to grow vertically across a wall to improve aesthetics and insulation.

French drain – A perforated pipe laid within a gravel filled trench which collects and diverts water.