Being located in one of the driest areas of the UK, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, near Chelmsford in Essex champions water efficiency, and with this in mind the new car park conceals some interesting design features that make it more environmentally friendly than your average car park.
The clever design of the car park makes good use of the undulating landscape by incorporating swales and terracing thus maximising the recycling of surface rain water as well as providing an aesthetically pleasing landscaped area.
Swales (water drainage ditches) which eliminate the need for extensive underground drainage systems, provide a low-cost, low-maintenance way of harvesting rain water. They also encourage slow water run off which aids the removal of pollutants and allows more water to be retained by the surrounding soil and plants. Similar swales will also run alongside the new approach road to the garden to replicate a traditional English landscape with swathes of grasses and far-reaching views.
The new approach road and car park also makes good use of materials by using recycled concrete aggregate from crushed construction or demolition debris which is ideal as a base layer for roads. Tarmac has only been used where essential. The car park will accommodate 400 cars and five coaches, with provision for future expansion.
Alongside the car park, the new garden entrance building also incorporates a number of water and energy efficient features such as rain water harvesting a ground source heat pump to warm the building.
Harvested water from both the swales and the building will be discharged to the garden’s 45-million litre (10 million gallon) reservoir. The reservoir was built with the financial assistance of Essex & Suffolk Water to provide the garden with all its irrigation needs and reduce the garden’s reliance on mains supply in an area with low rainfall.
The whole area will be complemented by planting of trees such as Alnus, Acer, Carpinus, Sorbus and Pyrus chanticleer to add interest, height and structure.
Development of the new approach road, car park and garden entrance building is part of the Society’s long term master planning which has been overseen by consultants ‘The Landscape Agency’. The Landscape Agency has developed a holistic approach to large scale changes to this remarkable Essex garden in a way that will enhance the visitor experience and make the most of Hyde Hall’s 360-acre estate.
Through its gardens, the RHS has the opportunity to inspire and inform visitors about the development of sustainable gardening, and highlight the challenges that face gardeners in a rapidly changing environment.
written by David Alexander, Director RHS Estates
