Boxford’s Rain Garden

We have finished the construction of the Rain garden at Boxford Village Hall!

The rain garden is working as intended, managing rainwater collected from the village hall’s roof. It is designed to mimic nature by capturing water in the top layer, where different plants will help absorb and clean it. Below this, a mix of soil and sand helps the plants grow and allows water to flow through while filtering out pollutants. Underneath that, a layer of stones and gravel holds water temporarily, slowing it down to help reduce strain on the drainage network. Right now, the garden is filtering the water through the soil, and once the plants are added, it will slow the flow of water even more effectively.

This rain garden is one of many water resilience measures being explored by Reclaim the Rain across Boxford’s wider surface water catchment, which we will share regular updates on as we progress. By targeting multiple areas along the natural flow paths, we aim to combine the benefits of these sustainable water management features. Together, they will help reduce surface water flood risk to properties downstream and ease pressure on the River Box during flood events.