Paving your front garden could increase flood risk

Thinking about paving over your front garden? Well, you might want to think again and create a garden that will help protect your home from flash flooding.

At CPRE London, we are working with the Ealing Front Gardens Project and others to promote de-paving and re-greening of front gardens. So, it was interesting to see a recent survey carried out by the insurers Aviva that revealed worryingly low levels of public awareness of flood risks from changes homeowners may make to their garden.

Negative impact

The survey found that only a third of people (33%) believe the lack of natural planting in a garden can increase flood risk. And just three in ten people surveyed (28%) think artificial grass poses a risk.

However, changes commonly made to gardens often have a negative impact on the environment. And can increase the risk of flash flooding caused by heavy downpours following a period of dry weather.

London has recently seen several days of scorching sunshine, but flash floods are a regular feature of the British summer. Aviva data shows that July and August experience almost a quarter (24%) of all flood claims received, with each month receiving 12% of annual flood claims, second only to December (17%).

Make your garden flood resilient

The insurers, which supported The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, are advising homeowners to make their garden more flood resilient by adopting a range of measures, including using permeable materials, such as gravel, installing drains or planting borders to allow rainwater to soak into the ground.

According to Jason Storah, CEO UK & Ireland General Insurance, Aviva, the British Rainforest Garden “helps support the restoration of threatened habitats and demonstrates how gardens can provide multiple benefits. Importantly, these benefits can be brought to the smallest of outside spaces, to help ensure gardens are climate-ready and resilient to future weather impacts”.

Find further details of the Aviva data here

For more information about CPRE London’s campaign to protect front gardens, see here