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Case study: a Manchester clay garden that stopped flooding

One household's shallow basin and permeable path cut standing water to near zero.

Garden Forward editorial team · Published 2026-03-19 · Updated 2026-03-19 · Manchester, United Kingdom

Snow-capped bird feeders hanging from a lamp post beside a frosted spruce under a clear blue winter sky
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The garden pooled after every heavy rainfall, with water running off a sealed patio onto compacted clay.

Replacing part of the patio with permeable gravel and adding a 4 m² planted basin absorbed the majority of runoff.

Two winters on, standing water has been limited to short periods after the heaviest events.

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