Making use of very wet lawn

[bobstersmum]

We have a very large grass area in the garden which has clay soil which has always has a wet boggy patch in the middle. However last year some new houses popped up at the end of our garden which are slightly higher than us and since then the grass has never dried out at all. The kids just can't play out on it.
Is there anything I can do to claim the area back and make it usable again?
For info, next door had a builder come and dig a soak away for him which has made no difference.

Maybe there's something wrong with the drains in the new-build, or it has interfered with the water table. Perhaps you could ask someone from the council to come and check it out. The construction company might have to come and put things right if there is an issue with run-off draining into your property. An alternative might be your water board.

Good thinking! I will consult my neighbour and contact them both
Thank you

You could plant a willow tunnel or a wigwam , those things lift a LOT of water. I did that on a wet clay lawn and it gave the kids a lot of fun too. They’d root easily too.

We had the same problem. No amount of planting or drainage seemed to help so we had artificial turf laid, so at least it's not muddy and meant the kids could play out.

My work colleague had this exact problem. New houses went up at the back and suddenly her lawn was flooded all the time. I think she complained with her neighbours to the developer and they sorted it out for her.

I am definitely going to contact the council to come and check it out, dh thinks I'm flogging a dead horse but it's worth a shot isn't it! If there is nothing they can do then I will look into planting some things in the wet area.

Naked mud wrestling events?

My daughter is currently battling with the developer of their new build home.They chose the house for its generously sized plot ant initially all seemed well.However 3 years on the top 1/3rd of their garden is completely waterlogged,and the quality of their lawn is appalling. Basically the developer doesn't seem to care.Keep citing you're out of warranty.They have contacted the NHBC but it's seems only the first 3 metres from house is covered !Interestingly the houses behind were completed slightly later,and are set higher. It seems pretty obvious the developer has not put in adequate drainage for the site overall.They are not the only ones with problems,but basically the garden is virtually unusable.
Then again they have also had major problems with plumbing,repeated leaks,rotten kitchen units,and bath that didn't have the overflow connected.The after sales care has frankly been diabolical.And getting anything fixed has taken months,and numerous calls and emails.But the garden upsets them most of all as it seems nothing is going to be done to rectify it.
They are resigned to the fact that when they can finally afford it they will have to pay a landscaper to try and restructure the garden to somehow make it usable.

Spoke to colleague, the developers put drainage trench/gully things in the backs of the gardens behind her. The water now runs into those and is carried away rather than just running off the rear gardens and into hers. She doesn't know what the actual name of the thing is though.

Thanks gummy I'm going to speak to my neighbour today and get him on side then approach the council together, I really hope they can help!

snuggle - If I were your daughter, I woudl consider raising the level of the end of the garden, or digging a pond WITHOUT a liner, which would allow the water to drain into it, and then the lawn would be drier.