Green Shop Solar Powers Siblands Sensory Garden

Eddie of Green Shop Solar has supplied a PV powered dual water feature system as part of a sensory garden at Siblands Day Care Centre in Thornbury.

The garden is a finalist in the community section of BBC Points West garden competition and was featured on South West regional news last week. The judges felt this is a real community garden open to everyone. They said,

"The community spirit was excellent with each volunteer having a different role to play. The judges felt this garden served a real purpose to the community who used it - especially those who are disabled. Everything is at a level for wheelchair access, and there's something there to touch and smell for the blind and something for the school children. Even wildlife are encouraged to use the garden with a new home for hedgehogs!"

The Green Shop supplied and installed photovoltaic panels (visible in the picture above), control circuits and water pumps. The system powers the water features for a few hours each day at programmed times.

Eddie commented that, "the system comprises two 80 watt PV modules that charge a low maintenance battery. The battery feeds two timers and voltage converters for the pumps. Each channel powers an Oase 1500 pump, one for each water feature. These systems are easy and safe to install, people often buy the components for DIY installation."

This system uses a battery because it had to work at certain times of the day. For home installation it's easier to run the pump direct from the PV panel and then the water feature truns on when the sun shines.

The pumps are feeding two separate water features at either end of the garden. One is a standing stone surrounded by shingle, water emerges from the top of the stone and runs back through the shingle to a reservoir beneath. The second feature has a water course constructed of natural stone about ten feet long taking the water back to the pond where the pump is submerged.