Oswestry residents will get a close look this June at how rain gardens, tree planting and the removal of unused paving could help local spaces cope better with heavy rainfall.
The Oswestry De-pave project, managed by Shropshire Council and linked to the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, will be showcased at Green Day in Oswestry town centre on June 13. The event is free and open to the public, with local residents, families and community organisations invited to visit the Grow With The Flow stall.
Two additional promotional sessions will take place at Oswestry Library from 10am to 1pm on June 10 and June 24. These will give residents another chance to ask about the project and how they might get involved.
Free June dates in Oswestry town centre and library
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Main event | Green Day event |
| Date | June 13 |
| Venue | Oswestry town centre |
| Cost | Free |
| Extra sessions | Oswestry Library |
| Library times | 10am to 1pm on June 10 and June 24 |
| Who it is for | Residents, families and community organisations |
The Green Day event and Oswestry Library promotional sessions are being used to explain the Oswestry De-pave demonstrator project in practical terms. The town centre event will focus on simple changes that can be made in streets, homes and shared spaces, including removing hard surfaces that are no longer needed and replacing them with planting.
A car park area is due to feature a rain garden through the project. The idea is to show how planting can help manage rainwater more naturally while also improving places for people and wildlife.
Rain gardens and depaving take centre stage
At the Grow With The Flow stall, visitors will be able to see examples of depaving in practice, speak to project partners and find out how similar ideas could be used at home or by community groups.
The work is built around a simple principle: where hard surfacing is not needed, planting can help slow the movement of rainwater. In a town where more intense rainfall is part of the challenge being addressed, the project is testing how small local changes can contribute to wider flood resilience.
Jenna Shaw, from Shropshire Wildlife Trust, is leading the De-pave demonstrator project. She said: “What we’re showing is that tackling surface water and improving our environment doesn’t have to be complicated. Small, local actions like removing unused paving and planting something in its place can make a real difference when lots of people get involved.”
Grow With The Flow was formed by the De-pave project with local volunteers. Its focus is on helping communities work with nature, encouraging solutions that slow the flow of water, support wildlife and bring people together.
Jenna added: “There’s a real appetite locally to do something positive for the environment. By working together, we can create spaces that are not only greener, but better prepared for the kinds of weather we’re seeing more often.”
How the project fits into the River Severn scheme
The Oswestry De-pave project is one of eight demonstrator projects funded through the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme. It will test approaches aimed at reducing flood risk within the upper River Severn catchment area.
The wider scheme is a cross-border initiative led by the Environment Agency, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, Powys County Council and Shropshire Council, with funding from Defra. Its aim is to develop a holistic water management strategy for the upper Severn that could be used as a model for similar work elsewhere.
For residents, the June events are the public-facing part of that work: a chance to see what depaving means on the ground, ask how rain gardens are created, and explore how local people can help shape greener spaces.
What residents can do next
People who want to learn more can visit the Grow With The Flow stall at Green Day in Oswestry town centre on June 13. The source announcement did not state a specific Green Day time or a more detailed town centre address.
Jenna Shaw will also be at Oswestry Library between 10am and 1pm on June 10 and June 24 to promote the De-pave project and encourage local people to get involved.
Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom
Source check Source trail
This preview is based on the Shropshire Council Newsroom announcement and the event details stated there.
- Confirmed Green Day is listed for June 13 in Oswestry town centre.
- Confirmed Oswestry Library sessions are stated as 10am to 1pm on June 10 and June 24.
- Confirmed the event is tied to the Oswestry De-pave project, Grow With The Flow and the Se...
- No booking, transport or accessibility details were added because they were not provided i...
- Source
- Shropshire Council Newsroom
- Scope
- Oswestry, Shropshire
- Updated
- 2026-06-02 15:57
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