RAIN GARDENS AND SOCIAL-ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS IN SHEFFIELD AND BRADFORD, UNITED KINGDOM

ABSTRACT Excess use of hard landscaping in urban spaces has caused environmental issues like surface water runoff and urban heat island effect. Among different nature-based solutions that could introduce nature into cities, this paper focused on rain gardens. Field observation and surface temperatures were taken in two UK cities. The observations showed that planted rain gardens are accepted as multifunctional spaces, used by a wide range of people and wildlife. Recordings of surface temperatures showed that plants reduced the temperatures by 2.6°C (compared to the sidewalk impervious surface). Even the bare parts of the rain garden were 1.8°C cooler than near sandstone. Stretching these surfaces in a city scale could significantly alter the urban climate during warm months. Furthermore, understanding the environmental impact of materials in different seasons (their reaction to extreme heat and rain) would be helpful for urban designers and decision makers.