Flood Re has opened a permanent flood resistant garden at Howbery Park in Oxfordshire. It is an evolution of the garden that was shown at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2024. Dr Ed Barsley designed the garden with additional landscaping and planting design by Belderbos Landscapes. It exemplifies how garden owners can implement their own flood mitigation measures.

Kelly Ostler-Coyle, director of corporate affairs at Flood Re, said: “We’re thrilled that the flood resilient garden now has a permanent home, open and accessible to the wider public. Outdoor spaces like this are vital in providing a natural first line of defence against flooding.

“This garden demonstrates how thoughtful choices in plants and landscape design can offer both aesthetic value and tangible protection — helping to minimise physical damage and emotional strain when floods occur. If flood-resistant features and built-in water storage were adopted across communities, the collective benefit would be transformative.”

The garden is free to visit and is open to the public. The site is owned by HR Wallingford.