IN A time of drought and hosepipe bans, one town council has come up with a way of reusing water and saving its plants.

Natural water sources are now being used to water Ventnor Park and Cascade gardens.

Ventnor Town Council (VTC) has recently fitted pumps into the stream at the two town beauty spots to solve the problems it faced following the introduction of the hosepipe ban.

Mayor of Ventnor Cllr Steph Toogood said two days before the ban, their contractors were told they could not water the locations in their usual way.

Instead, contractors had to rely on watering cans using tap water.

Now, sustainable solutions have been installed and have saved thousands of plants and shrubs from dying.

The Cascades is fuelled by a stream running off Ventnor Down and instead of the water being collected, it was being sent straight out to sea.

Cllr James Toogood said when they realised where the water went, they decided to install pumps — one which waters the lower level planting and a suction pump a hose can be plugged into to water the higher plants and surrounding greenery.

Cllr Toogood said the pump, which is also serving the park, was so powerful when it was used for the first time the hose fitting blew off.

He said the town council has been able to solve the problem on a small budget so they now don't need to use tap water at the Cascades or the park to water the plants.

The stream at Ventnor Park.

It would also save the town council a lot of money in the future, Cllr Toogood said.

Mayor Toogood said the installation of the pumps seems to have helped regulate the flow of water coming down the Cascades and now with less trouble of water at the bottom.

She said the town council had really worked to make the Cascades "the jewel in the crown of the town," with increased signage and games for children painted on the floor by the paddling pool.

Mayor Toogood also thanked contractors John O'Connor and gardeners Stan Hayden and Dave Kalaker for their work and help in getting the pumps installed quickly.

South In Bloom judges visited the town in July and the results are expected in the coming weeks.

We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here

© 2001-2022. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. A Gannett Company. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9TY. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |

Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event.

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.