Supporting Project Sponge to Create a Community Rain Garden
As part of Cardo’s commitment to supporting environmental sustainability and improving local neighbourhoods, colleagues volunteered alongside Project Sponge to create a community rain garden at the Chalvey Pakistani Welfare Association. The project is part of a wider initiative to reduce local flood risk while transforming an underused area into a thriving, nature-rich space.
The Challenge
Surface water flooding had left sections of the car park unusable, impacting visitors and the wider community. By creating a rain garden and bog garden, excess rainwater can be naturally absorbed, reducing pressure on drainage systems while providing the ideal conditions for marsh plants and local wildlife to flourish. Bringing the project to life required significant manual work, making community volunteers essential to its success.
Our Approach
Cardo colleagues joined Project Sponge and local volunteers during community action days to prepare and landscape the site. Activities included moving gravel, raking and levelling the ground, watering, planting and preparing the bog garden for long-term community use.
The project also provided an opportunity to strengthen existing community relationships. It was a pleasure to work once again with the Sharifa Ibrahim Foundation, having first partnered together during the Chalvey community litter pick.
Partnership Working
This initiative was delivered in partnership with Project Sponge, Chalvey Pakistani Welfare Association, the Sharifa Ibrahim Foundation, local volunteers, community charities and Cardo colleagues, demonstrating how collaboration can deliver lasting environmental improvements.
The Outcome
The completed rain garden will help manage surface water, reduce local flood risk, improve biodiversity and create an attractive green space for the community. The project also strengthened partnerships and encouraged greater community involvement in protecting the local environment.
Social Value Delivered
- Reduced local flood risk through sustainable drainage.
- Improved biodiversity with new planting and habitat creation.
- Supported employee volunteering and community engagement.
- Strengthened partnerships with local organisations and charities.
- Enhanced an underused community space for long-term public benefit.
Looking Ahead
Cardo is proud to continue supporting Project Sponge and local partners to deliver practical environmental projects that create healthier, greener and more resilient communities for future generations. We donated several boxes of wild meadow seed bombs to spread around the borders, to add a further touch of colour.
