AN AREA of tranquility and stylish design has appeared in the Slimbridge Wetland Centre having come direct from Chelsea.

An award-winning show garden from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been installed at the Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust aimed at inspiring visitors to conserve and harvest water.

The Royal Bank of Canada’s Rain Garden, which achieved a Silver Gilt at Chelsea, was designed by Nigel Dunnett to capture and use every single drop of rain that falls onto it.

Featuring an office space built from a former shipping container, two large circular ponds and natural stone walls filled with books, twigs and lambs wool to attract insects, the garden is both beautiful and sustainable and will be a permanent installation at Slimbridge WWT.

At the official unveiling of the garden last week, chief executive of the WWT Martin Spray said: "The rain garden is wonderful because it is not only there to show how to use rain water in your garden but it is also beautiful and lovely to look at."

The garden was created by RBC as part of its Blue Water Project, which is a 10-year global commitment to help protect the world’s fresh water resources.

Mr Dunnett said it was "extremely gratifying" to see the garden re-built after Chelsea and he was aware that it was the most complete re-build of a Chelsea garden ever.

"The sustainability message is at the core of the garden," he said.

The garden is designed to soak up water and store it in ponds, planters and damp meadows. It acts like a giant sponge to help preserve water that falls onto it and to prevent flooding in extreme weather conditions.

The planting includes a mix of drought-tolerant grasses and perennials, colourful flowering plants that like damp ground such as Primulas and carpets of shade-loving plants beneath birch trees.

The garden is open to visitors all year round.