Crowndale Rain Gardens

Located in the Somers Town area of Camden, the Crowndale Road rain gardens form part of the Future Neighbourhoods 2030 programme – an initiative focused on creating healthier, safer and more climate-resilient communities.

This project introduces 20m² of rain garden planting along a busy urban street, transforming sections of hardstanding into green infrastructure that supports sustainable drainage, biodiversity and improved air quality. Designed in collaboration with the local authority and community, the scheme contributes to a wider vision of safer streets that prioritise walking, cycling and everyday use.

To create a greener, safer streetscape by integrating rain gardens that manage surface water, support biodiversity and contribute to healthier urban living. The proposal meets the objectives of We Make Camden by creating clean, vibrant and sustainable places and making it easier for people to travel more by foot and bike.

The project involved the design and installation of 20m² of rain garden planting, including dense herbaceous and structural planting suited to SuDS conditions and shade-tolerant wildflower seeding. Works also included soil preparation and mulching to support long-term plant establishment and performance.

The Crowndale Road rain gardens combine SuDS design with a diverse planting palette to create a resilient and visually rich streetscape. The scheme is designed to perform in variable moisture conditions while enhancing the local environment for residents and pedestrians. The plant list includes:

• Dryopteris wallichiana

• Astilbe ‘Red Sentinel’

• Cornus red alba sibirica

• skimmia ‘japonica’

The Crowndale Road rain gardens demonstrate how targeted SuDS interventions can contribute to wider urban improvements – creating streets that are not only functional, but greener and more enjoyable to use.