Aviva has used this week’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show to highlight the impact of garden design on a property’s flood resilience. The carrier said it had commissioned research among 2,000 people and found that almost half (47%) felt replacing natural lawn for artificial grass had no impact on flood risk.

Jason Storah, CEO UK & Ireland General Insurance at Aviva, said: “Urban areas can be most at risk because a lack of green space can leave rainwater with nowhere to go when the drains are overwhelmed. The impacts of flash floods shouldn’t be underestimated. Even a few centimetres of rainwater can have a devastating impact on homes, taking weeks or months to dry out, or damaging treasured family belongings.

“And while they may seem like a low-maintenance option, artificial lawns can also cause problems. Most are made from plastic with a limited lifespan, so they will eventually end up in landfill. We’d urge homeowners to consider more flood resilient alternatives, including using permeable materials, such as gravel, installing drains or planting borders to allow rainwater to reach the ground.”

At this year’s event, Aviva and the Wildlife Trusts have designed a show garden that includes plants which can help mitigate flood risk and improve biodiversity.

Storah added: “The British Rainforest Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show helps support the restoration of threatened habitats and demonstrates how gardens can provide multiple benefits. Importantly, these benefits can be brought to the smallest of outside spaces, to help ensure gardens are climate-ready and resilient to future weather impacts.”