On a warm, dry Saturday afternoon at the Fun Day on the Burgage, children and adults alike were interested to make it rain on semi-detached model houses on our ‘The Rain Story’ stall.
The model, supplied by Trent Rivers Trust and Environment Agency, demonstrated how Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) can visibly slow down the rate at which rainfall enters the main drain system. This can be crucial in a heavy rainstorm when surface water drains become overwhelmed and possibly cause flooding.
The model includes one house with a non-permeable driveway and a SuDS house with interventions which provide more absorption or storage, such as roof gardens, swales, rainwater gardens and water butts.
Other activities included ‘The Rain Story’ which narrated our flood journey since 23rd July 2013, leaving gaps for children to complete; a fishing game to ‘Give a Watery Name’ to the article they caught, and a goodie bag to take home if they took part.
Model showing the SuDs elements
Note the right hand house which has a non-permeable front garden
Did he know one of his ‘tricks’ would be to make it rain?
