You may have seen a number of planter-looking ditches which have appeared at recent road developments across Cardiff, and like many, you might be wondering what they are.
The planters, known as rain gardens, have been installed across the capital as part of the council’s efforts to improve drainage and add more biodiversity to the city’s streets. They have popped up in Canton, Cathays, Riverside and in the city centre following works to redevelop the road networks in these areas and their arrival has left some people puzzled and frustrated, with confusion over their purpose and annoyance at their appearance.
What are rain gardens? First of all, it is worth explaining that they are a type of sustainable drainage system that captures rainfall before it enters the piped network and either releases it slowly into this network or allows it to infiltrate into the ground. The aim is to give the water somewhere to collect and pool, instead of overwhelming the existing drains and flooding the road or pavement.
