Wednesday 17 May 2023, 7.45pm (online)

In November 2022 even the National Infrastructure Commission reported on rising flood risk from “The spread of impermeable surfaces – such as the paving over of gardens…”

Front gardens are the green spaces right on our doorsteps. As more of these little bits of Britain are paved over, often to park vehicles or to ‘reduce maintenance’, the side effects are becoming clear.

Not everyone has a front garden but when others who do make an effort with theirs everyone gains – in more ways than one.

Humble front gardens have a multi-purpose role by:

– helping reduce local flood risk by storing heavy rainfall. By contrast, too much water running off hard, non-porous surfaces like paved-over front gardens, adding to pressure on drains, sewers and local rivers

– moderating excess heat in warmer months because soil, planting, hedges and trees help with cooling in hot weather. Gardens converted to hard surfacing exacerbate the  kinds of heath threatening high temperatures seen in in 2022 because they heat up and retain warmth more.

– Providing space for nature. The loss of soil, plants and spaces for wild species to shelter and feed adds to the UK’s shocking decline of wildlife and means we experience less wildlife in our lives on our doorsteps.

Christine Eborall has tracked the loss of front gardens to hard surfacing in Ealing, west London, since the 1990s. She’s also shown how front gardens can be restored and even used to park / charge vehicles without losing all of the multi-functional role front gardens play.

For more information see https://frontgardens.nationalparkcity.org/

1. Book your space by emailing qwag@qwag.org.uk.

2. Joining details will be sent to those who have booked, usually on the day of the event.

3. The meeting will be held online via Zoom probably in two parts: 7.45pm to 8.25pm and then 8.30pm to 9.10pm.

More details here