A RESIDENTIAL street near Swansea seafront is now home to a new kind of installation that’ll create space for nature whilst helping fight climate change.
The Burrows Road raingarden has been installed by Swansea Council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
It was funded by a Welsh Government Local Places for Nature grant.
Andrew Stevens, the council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “It’s great to see this innovative and attractive addition to the Sandfields street scene.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the raingarden. It enhances the street’s appearance and will play a crucial role in improving drainage, supporting wildlife and providing a year-round haven for pollinators.
“This project is a great example of how we work with our partners to create practical solutions that benefit residents and the environment.”
Fran Rolfe, senior environment officer, Natural Resources Wales, said: “It’s fantastic to see the raingarden being planted near the seafront.
“Positioned right next to the beach, it will help reduce the risk of pollution as well as prevent local flooding. It will also provide a home for wildlife, looks great and I hope will be enjoyed by the community and visitors.”
The raingarden is designed to be a sustainable solution to upgrade the Burrows Road drainage system, building resilience to climate change and contributing to nature recovery.
It captures water runoff from the road and pavements; its trees, shrubs and flowers help reduce the risk of flooding. It helps decrease pollution getting into waterways and harming ecosystems.
It offers food and shelter to pollinators all year round and provides a splash of colour through the seasons.
The council has declared a climate and nature emergency. Working with NRW, it’s trialling solutions – including the raingarden – to help reverse biodiversity loss and improve people’s health and wellbeing.
The raingarden fitted neatly into one end of Burrows Road, meaning no loss of parking spaces. An existing tree was retained.
