Free Workshop - Introduction to Rain Gardens - March 30th 6:00-7:45 pm

On Monday, March 30, 2015, the Hampton Conservation Commission and the NHDES Soak Up the Rain program will be sponsoring a free workshop for people who want to learn about rain gardens. The workshop will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm at the Hampton Lane Library (2 Academy Ave). Refreshments will be provided.

Workshop participants will learn how to evaluate their property’s potential for a rain garden, as well as the basics of rain garden design, installation, and maintenance. There will also be information provided about Hampton’s cost-share grant opportunity for rain garden installations.

Creating a rain garden is a great way for homeowners, schools, businesses, churches, and other organizations to help protect our rivers, streams, ponds, salt marshes, and ocean. A rain garden is a shallow depression planted with native plants and grasses. These gardens are sustainable, affordable, and particularly effective at capturing rain water, preventing flooding, creating habitat for local wildlife (birds and butterflies), and filtering up to 80 percent of pollutants (household fertilizers, pesticides, oils, etc.) from our stormwater runoff. According to the Center for Watershed Protection, 30 percent more water soaks into the ground from a rain garden than from the same size area of lawn. So if you have flooding issues in your yard, rain gardens may be a valuable tool in helping to resolve those problems.

A rain garden can also save you money by reducing your outdoor water use while keeping your landscape healthy and green.

Advance registration for the workshop is preferred but not mandatory. To sign up, email rdionne@town.hampton.nh.us or call 603-929-5808.