I’ve become a little bit obsessed with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems and raingardens. This might be because I now feel mildly informed on what they actually are. In fact, this could technically be the third article in a trilogy on urban drainage and London’s river crisis. To catch up, please skim over London’s Sewage Crisis: How We Can Save Our Rivers and Front Gardens on the Frontline.
The nature of my work means I tend to learn a little bit about a lot of different things without ever really becoming an expert in any of them. Photography might be the exception; a 25-year career and half a million portraits might just push me into the realm of expertise, but it has done nothing for my raingarden knowledge.
In fact, I can almost pinpoint the date and time when I first heard the term. It was very early on in my work with Footways, and we were exploring a wonderful little cut-through from King’s Cross to the Strand Aldwych. Leading the walk was Footways co-founder David Harrison, who made a throwaway comment about how “it would be lovely if we had a raingarden here.” I nodded in agreement, fearful of revealing my ignorance whilst simultaneously trying to conjure a vision of what on earth a raingarden could possibly be. The moment passed, and my sustainable urban drainage system ignorance remained intact.
Knee-Deep in Sh*t
Despite standing in my studio, knee-deep in floodwater at 2am on an August morning, I didn’t really think too much about how such an incident could be prevented—other than perhaps I should buy some sandbags.
Over the next couple of years, there’d be the odd occurrence where people would point out examples of raingardens, and slowly, I came to realise that those often sad, scrubby-looking pavement borders that seem to be popping up everywhere actually serve a function beyond aesthetic appeal.
Making London a Sponge City
Fast forward to June 2024. For a couple of years, I had been volunteering as a social media specialist for CPRE London. That role has since evolved into creating fundraising videos, doing the occasional voiceover work, and providing tech support for various events. One such project was to film an event hosted by CPRE London for London Rivers Week. The event was titled Make London a Sponge City.
A quick aside: I’ve always enjoyed Head of Campaigns Alice Roberts’ use of language. It has a clickability to it—intriguing without being misleading. Sadly, she doesn’t host short-form copywriting courses for campaigners, but if that’s your area of interest, I highly recommend reading some of Alice’s blog articles. Please do not contact her directly for advice—she’s too busy campaigning whilst tearing up concrete and creating parklets in her spare time.
The topic of discussion in the webinar was the urgent need to address urban drainage issues and improve river health. This was my introduction to the Sponge City concept and the SuDS acronym.
Another aside: SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) is sometimes written as SUDS. As far as I know, they are the same thing—one has book smarts, the other has street smarts. I also want to reaffirm my detest for acronyms. If you want people to hate something, make it an acronym. It is an elitist, non-inclusive use of language. This is an opinion entirely my own and does not reflect the views of the National Park City Foundation—but it’s a hill I’m willing to die on. Trying to insert new ones into the zeitgeist is like trying to make a nonsense hashtag trend. You might succeed, but everyone will think less of you for it. I feel less strongly about initialisms, which is why The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England gets a pass.
Speakers discussed ongoing initiatives and future needs for developing nature-based solutions to urban water management problems. The event also highlighted the urgency of implementing sustainable urban drainage systems like rain gardens and wetlands to reduce sewage overflow and filter pollutants from urban runoff.
It was an interesting event, and I urge you to watch it. For me, it meant I could carry the term sustainable urban drainage system in my toolbelt far more comfortably.
Why I Now Care About Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (And You Probably Should Too)
You’ll be forgiven for lacking a sense of joie de vivre whilst walking the streets around my North Croydon studio. Access to local green space is almost non-existent, almost every front garden is a concrete driveway, and pavements line the road, completely devoid of green verges.
When residents of my building asked how it was possible that the street could have flooded so badly, the answer we got back was that the sewage pipes were too small. Nothing can be done, and it’ll most likely happen again. Invest in sandbags.
Sandbags might be a metaphor for the entire climate crisis: there’s too much focus on short-term fixes rather than preventing the problem.
But there is more that can be done beyond sandbags. At the end of this article I’ve shared a couple of them but leading by example is always a fulfilling venture.
We planted a number of different plants, though their names now escape me. There were some nice grasses, some bush-like plants, and small stubby bits which we were told would grow taller than an adult goat (I can’t quite remember the unit of measurement, but an adult goat feels about right).
It may be obvious by now that I am not a horticulturist. In fact, I am guilty of a 15-year indoor plant murder spree, which shows no signs of abating. But the beauty of volunteering at planting sessions like this is that my record of plant genocide is wiped clean, and I can atone for my past sins. In a way, it makes me feel like a petrochemical company buying carbon credits, as I left the day with a feeling of bio-neutrality.
Actually, I left the day caked in a significant amount of mud, which I wore like a badge of honour. It was also a pretty decent workout for a middle-aged man with lingering injury caused by too much typing.
Rain Garden Planting with Thames21
Last month I put on my Ranger boots and headed to Hounslow to join Ranger Mar, Thames21, and the local community in planting two rain gardens on grass verges along Brabazon Road.
This was the first of three planting days in the Heston West area of Hounslow. In total, 39 volunteers helped plant 11 rain gardens across Brabazon Road, Burns Way, and Shelley Crescent. Most of the species were chosen by local residents. These rain gardens will help reduce flooding, improve water quality, and enhance local biodiversity.
Volunteers came from Heston Action Group, Heston Primary School, London National Park City, Habitats and Heritage, and, of course, local residents.
Along with planting, we were given a demonstration on how rain gardens work, how they improve water quality, and the biodiversity benefits they provide.
I also tried homemade kombucha for the first time. It’s an acquired taste. Members of Heston Action Group were eager to witness my facial expressions as I took my first sips. My journey towards better gut health often involves drinking home-brewed concoctions by the roadside.
Ways you can help urban drainage
If you’ve made it this far and somehow I’ve lit the fuse of action within you then here’s a couple of ways you can do your bit.
- Restore your front garden
Restoring your front garden is a rewarding endeavor that benefits both your home and the environment. Replacing hard surfaces with greenery enhances aesthetics and supports local ecosystems. Front Gardens on the Frontline offers some simple solutions for climate action
- Install Water Butts
Collecting rainwater reduces runoff and provides a sustainable water source for your garden. This practice is part of the broader “sponge city” initiative, which aims to make London more resilient by integrating nature-based solutions such as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), green roofs, and wetlands throughout the city.
- Volunteer or join a Community Project
Engaging with local environmental initiatives can lead to significant improvements in your neighborhood. Thames21 have a number of projects happening throughout the year with London Rivers Week being a particular highlight.
There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer your time in London National Park City—whether in parks and gardens, with conservation groups, on rivers, or within your own neighbourhood.
You can explore volunteering opportunities near you using our Volunteer Map, which covers all 32 London Boroughs. This beta version has been developed with contributions from over 100 individuals and charities, and you can even suggest new places to be added.
Whether you’re passionate about nature conservation, river restoration, litter picking, or supporting one of London’s 4,000 parks and green spaces, why not get involved and help create a greener, healthier, and wilder London?
