Every DROP counts

With droughts and deluges becoming the norm, rethinking how we store, manage and reuse water is vital. The latest innovative solutions are all about going with the flow, says landscape designer Darryl Moore

- Darryl Moore

Water is essential to healthy ecosystems, and every gardener knows how tricky it can be to get just the right amount. But with water becoming more unpredictable, it’s time to be more mindful of how we use it in our gardens. By understanding where water comes from, how it moves and where it goes, we can work with the natural flow and reduce our reliance on mains water.

Although about 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, only a small fraction of it is usable fresh water. It’s often only during floods or droughts that we're reminded of how much we depend on water - and how vulnerable we are when it's in short supply.

Climate change is making things harder. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to intense, erratic rainfall. At the same time, heatwaves and droughts are becoming more frequent. Here in the UK, we're seeing both. That means it’s time to adapt our gardens - and the way we think about water.

In the wider landscape, the approach to water is shifting. Instead of channeling and controlling it, we're learning to let it find its own way. Author Erica Gies, a proponent of the slow water movement, puts it simply: “Collaborating with water, rather than trying to control it, can solve many of the problems we're creating for ourselves.”

One inspiring example is the concept of 'sponge cities'. These urban areas use green spaces, wetlands and permeable surfaces to soak up and store water, ready for drier spells. The concept originated in Hyderabad, India, and China has since led the way, retrofitting selected cities, with the goal that 80 per cent of all land can absorb or reuse 70 per cent of storm water. This concept is now being considered for UK cities such as London, where flash flooding is on the rise.