The Story of the Swale

Water arrives once again, to the stony steps, through the sediment block, flowing from the streets surrounding the rain garden. 

Its journey was long and tiring, feeling heavy from the extra weight of residues from the human world, from oiled streets to pollutants found in gutters. As the water enters the garden, travelling downhill over rocks and to the soil, moving past the roots of diverse plant life, it starts to feel relief as it begins to shed this excess weight. 

Under the ground, transformation takes place, the minerals from the earth filter out the toxins and the water becomes again a source of nourishment. Some water particles begin to break away and travel through the roots, feeding leafy neighbours and helping them bloom and expand.

As the garden drinks, life stirs around it. During the day, bees dance between the flowers, pollen-dusted foot-prints tracking their journey. Hummingbirds flutter in and sip nectar, bringing health to the environment. As the sun sets, the roles in the garden shift. Bats and moths take over beneath the moonlight, continuing the work of their daytime counterparts: to feed, to pollinate, and to clean.

written by Sophia Borchers