Water is a limited and valuable resource but is also essential for plant growth. We want to encourage everyone to consider water conservation and to use resources in a more sustainable way, whilst at the same time reducing carbon emissions and saving money.
Rainwater Harvesting
Electric is needed to pump and clean water, so we have installed a rainwater harvesting system. We don't water our plants when they are out in the collection but we do nurture seedlings in the propagation unit. These plants are the life blood of the tree collection and our rainwater harvesting ensures our global conservation work and efforts are both energy conserving and efficient.
Using this innovative system meant that during the 2023 drought we didn't need to use any bore hole or mains water!
This new rainwater harvesting and filter system is a first for Forestry England and reduces the amount of water being used; completing the facilities that support the new Quarantine House in the arboretum’s propagation area.
Based on an average year’s rainfall, the system has the capacity to collect a massive 90,000 litres of rainwater per year and its collection tanks can store nearly 26,000 litres. That’s equivalent to 132 bathtubs of water.