Completed project
We adapted and enhanced the Zetland Park Rose Garden by integrating a raingarden into its redevelopment.
Client and partners
This project began in October 2021, with the Green Action Trust acting as project manager on behalf of Falkirk Council. As part of the design process, we worked in partnership with NatureScot, Falkirk Council and the Rose Garden Action Group, undertaking a series of co-design workshops.
In 2022 we acted as contract managers during the construction phase and the raingarden was officially opened as part of Falkirk Council’s wider Zetland Park restoration in August that year.
The Zetland Park Rose Garden project was supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.
What was achieved
The project delivered multiple outcomes, across these key areas:
The Rose Garden was reimagined as a raingarden to deal with the high water table and surface water flooding.
With new paths, seating and raised beds and interpretation to provide access to an attractive and usable outdoor space.
Through habitat creation and provision of food sources for pollinators, invertebrates, birds, amphibians and mammals.
Recognition for Zetland Park
In 2022 and 2023, the wider Zetland Park project won several prestigious awards. Our redevelopment of the Rose Garden was an integral part of the Zetland project’s Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) award as Scotland Overall Winner 2023.
The raingarden itself was also a joint winner of the 2022 Green Flag Award for Climate Change Adaptation.
Watch the video to find out more about what made the project such a success.
Zetland Park Rose Garden is part of the 10,000 Raingardens for Scotland initiative, designed to promote and encourage the use of raingardens as a sustainable and natural way to manage water, particularly in urban areas. It also supports the creation of wildlife-friendly, accessible greenspace, reduces pollution, and provides attractive places for people to visit.
The purpose of this project was to support the restoration and adaptation of the Rose Garden within the historic and culturally important Zetland Park, through the implementation of integrated raingarden features. The raingarden demonstrates that high quality multi-functional blue-green infrastructure can also be attractive and welcoming spaces.
The project demonstrates the multiple benefits of sustainable water management. These include adaptation to climate change through flood and drought resilience; creation of opportunities for recreation; contact with nature such as water, wildlife and vegetation; creating positive effects on quality of life and mental health; and biodiversity benefits such as water quality, habitat creation and provision of food sources for pollinators, invertebrates, birds, amphibians, and mammals.
There is also educational value here through the design and provision of on-site interpretation highlighting the raingarden process and the flourishing biodiversity.
Working in partnership with the Green Action Trust on the development of the Zetland Park Raingarden has been a really positive experience and we would not have been nearly as successful without their contribution.
Their knowledge, approach to community participation, and their ability to secure funding to further support the project have meant that we have transformed the park’s rose garden, from an area which frequently flooded and was in decline, into a garden which is once again loved by the community.
Allana Hughes
Zetland Park Project Officer, Falkirk Council
Before, during & after
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