Iver Environment Centre is the winner of the Water Saving Garden, featured at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
As part of the Save our Streams initiative, Affinity Water launched a competition for charities and community groups to win this Chelsea Flower Show Garden, as an environmentally friendly community space.
The Water Saving Garden, which is a tribute to the chalk streams of the Chilterns, is a perfect example of beauty combined with ingenious water conservation solutions needed to meet increasing water scarcity.
Affinity Water is delighted to announce that the Iver Environment Centre (part of The Groundwork South Trust) is the winner of its recent competition that gave local charities the chance to win The Water Saving Garden, featured at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
Nestled in the Colne Valley between Uxbridge and Slough, Iver Environment Centre is managed by Groundwork South, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing local communities’ quality of life by sustainably transforming places and lives, for the past 34 years.
The Water Saving Garden by Affinity Water, designed by Chiltern Garden Design, featured in the Container Gardens category at the celebrated garden show, is a domestic courtyard inspired by the rare chalk streams of the Chilterns. It showcases innovative water efficiency solutions within a modern, stylish setting, and was awarded a bronze medal by the judging panel.
Following the garden’s debut at the Chelsea Flower Show, Affinity Water launched the competition to award it to one charity located within the Affinity Water operating region (which covers parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, and Surrey), if they had a qualifying site available for the garden, which would allow the local community to benefit from a new tranquil and eco-friendly environment.
The Iver Environment Centre plans to use the new space to educate the thousands of visitors they have each year, including inspiring pupils about pollinators, protecting plants, and showing how they survive in a world with evolving weather systems, alongside educating their community visitors on the importance of water saving in the garden, and at home.
In The Water Saving Garden, rainwater from rooftops is collected into a dedicated water butt, which then distributes it across plant containers. This ensures plants receive only the necessary amount of water. Any excess rainwater is stored in invisible pipes within the planters, creating an innovative ecosystem that prioritizes natural resource conservation. The garden will be fully installed and will comprise over 100 herbaceous plants, shrubs, and bulbs, along with a dedicated water feature, bamboo decking, and trees. Discover more about the Water Saving Garden.
Two other wonderful charities were also given commendations for their work in the local community:
- Watford and Three Rivers Trust - Dig Deep Project
- The Stony Dean School, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Rebecca Froud, Director of Customer Experience at Affinity Water, said:
“There are some incredible charitable organisations delivering amazing environmental projects across our region, and the panel found it hard to pick just one winner. However, the Iver Environment Centre’s submission showcasing how The Water Saving Garden would support their environmental education aims and plans really stood out not only for its water saving but also its practicality. We look forward to seeing how they continue to educate their community on water saving, the benefits this brings and protects our local environment, including our precious chalk streams”
Katy Barton, manager of Iver Environment Centre said:
“As an environmental education centre our mission is to inspire people with the world around them and learn how to protect it. Not only will this garden be a beautiful addition to our grounds but we hope that it will showcase water saving ideas that people can go home and use themselves. We hope that the gift of this medal winning water saving garden will act as a catalyst to help us fundraise for a larger water saving garden project complete with a sedum roof and wildlife pond”
The competition forms part of Save Our Streams, a campaign introduced by Affinity Water in 2021 to mitigate the environmental impact on the Affinity Water regions rare chalk streams. These chalk streams, known for their filtered water, support a highly diverse ecosystem, including fish, birds, plants, and small mammals. Save Our Streams invites Affinity Water customers to sign up for a water-saving guide, aimed at reducing the strain on natural treasures like the Chilterns’ chalk streams.
You can support Iver Environment Centre’s fundraising efforts as it continues to expand the environmental services it provides its community.