Extreme weather events are becoming more common in the UK. To combat growing economic and social cost of such events, we must consider all potential solutions including gardens. However, the contribution of these greenspaces to groundwater recharge and storm runoff reduction is unknown. This PhD studentship offers a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with the Royal Horticultural Society to develop understanding and evaluate how the ‘green infrastructure’ benefits of gardens can be improved to increase society’s resilience to floods and droughts. Fees and stipend (£19,237; tax free) for a home (UK) student are covered by the studentship, with additional funding (£10,000) to support research and training. The studentship is sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society with funding from the Leverhulme Trust through the Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral Programme. 

There are around 30,000,000 gardens in the UK with an estimated combined area of over 4,300km2, equivalent to 20% the area of Wales. Gardens and other domestic outdoor spaces represent a major natural resource that is under highly diverse management and whose contributions to groundwater recharge and storm runoff reduction are highly uncertain and under-valued.  Furthermore, garden water use is strongly seasonal with high demands typically during periods of low supply. Research in this field has the potential to contribute towards alleviating current (seasonal) water stresses experienced by the water sector, while maintaining expected levels of quality in gardens. 
 
This exciting PhD, in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), will aim to use a combination of data analysis, monitoring and modelling to develop an improved understanding of the water balance of domestic gardens and evaluate how the ‘green infrastructure’ benefits of gardens can be improved to increase society’s resilience to floods and droughts. 
 
The PhD has the following outline objectives:
  • To design, install and monitor site-based measurements of the components of garden water balances;
  • To parameterise, calibrate and validate an appropriate numerical model to simulate the hydrological behaviour of gardens; 
  • To combine data analysis, modelling and remote sensing approaches with land-use classification information to develop an up-scaled spatial analysis of the contribution of UK domestic gardens to the nation’s water balance;
  • To provide recommendations on how domestic gardeners can manage rainwater in their gardens to optimise rainwater storage and resilience to floods and droughts.
This PhD is expected to provide improved understanding of the hydrological impacts and natural capital benefits of the UK’s gardens and horticultural sector.  Continuing Cranfield’s collaboration with the RHS, it will also disseminate new knowledge on water dynamics within domestic gardens, and recommendations on ways of improving the efficiency of water use in gardens and adapting to climate change.
 
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity.  Their charitable purpose is to inspire passion and excellence in the science, art and practice of horticulture and to be the leading global gardening charity, demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening. They provide advice, knowledge and services to their 620,000+ members; 2.9 million garden visitors; and 547,000 visitors to RHS Shows. They also engage with 34,000 schools, 300,000 RHS Britain in Bloom volunteers and the wider horticulture industry. Their online information attracts approximately 30 million ‘hits’ from amateur and professional gardeners each year. 
 

In addition to supervisory support, the Royal Horticultural Society will provide access to laboratory space and the Field Research Facility at RHS Garden Wisley. The RHS will also provide exciting and impactful training and dissemination opportunities:

  • RHS Media training – film and radio, and science communication: turning scientific research into practice
  • Opportunities to participate / communicate in sharing scientific findings at the RHS’s high profile Flower Shows.
  • Public engagement delivery in the new RHS Hilltop: Home of Gardening Science, Wisley.
The successful student will gain a wide range of technical and transferable skills which, combined with the many science communication opportunities from working with the Royal Horticultural Society, will provide many employability benefits.

At a glance

  • Application deadline26 Mar 2025
  • Award type(s)PhD
  • Start date29 Sep 2025
  • Duration of award4 years
  • EligibilityUK
  • Reference numberSWEE0280

Supervisor

1st Supervisor: Dr Lynda Deeks

2nd Supervisor: Dr Andrea Momblanch

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. 
 
This PhD will suit a student interested in ecosystems services and with a passion for finding natural solutions to environmental problems impacting society. A background in hydrology, physical geography, environmental science or similar would be desirable, given the monitoring and modelling components.  
 
However, depending on the student’s background, training will be available at Â鶹´«Ã½AV in understanding soils, modelling, GIS and remote sensing.  This will be augmented, as required, by bespoke training in soil and vegetation monitoring by the RHS Environmental Horticulture team.

Funding

This is a fully funded studentship sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust and Â鶹´«Ã½AV, this Connected Waters Leverhulme Doctoral programme studentship will cover the stipend (£19,237; tax free) and fees for up to 4 years for a home (UK) student. To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be classified as a home student. We require that applicants are under no restrictions regarding how long they can stay in the UK.

Leverhulme Trust Programme funding
The Connected Waters Doctoral Programme will fund up to 4 home (UK) PhD scholarships starting October 2025 at Â鶹´«Ã½AV. One of these scholarships can be a Master's plus PhD, which will fund a one-year full-time MSc and then a 4 year-PhD for a candidate that meets the additional eligibility requirements below.
 
Eligibility requirements for Doctoral Scholarships
Scholars must be registered as full-time PhD students or provide a minimum time commitment of 50%, if part time students, unless the Trust gives explicit permission for this to be varied. Scholars will be subject to the terms and conditions applying to doctoral students within the host institution where they are registered.
 
Eligibility requirements for Master's Plus Scholarships
To be eligible for the Master’s plus PhD Scholarships, candidates must fulfil the following criteria as specified by the Leverhulme Trust:
 
  • Be a UK domiciled student
  • Not already have a Master’s degree from the host institution
  • Be from a low-income household background as evidenced by being in receipt of a full maintenance loan or Special Support loan during their undergraduate studies
 
and/or identify as one of the following categories of ethnicity:

 

  • Black African
  • Black Caribbean
  • Black Other
  • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
  • Mixed – White and Black African
  • Other mixed background (including Black African, Black Caribbean and Black Other)
 

Cranfield Doctoral Network

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

How to apply

For further information please contact: Dr Lynda Deeks  l.k.deeks@cranfield.ac.uk

To apply, please complete the following steps:
 
  • Download and complete the 
  • Upload your Connect cover form within the Personal Statement section of the .

Please ensure that your fully completed online application form is submitted by the application closing date. All requested documentation should be uploaded to the online form before submission. Your application will not be considered unless all relevant documents have been uploaded. 

This vacancy may be filled before the closing date so early application is strongly encouraged.

For further information about application please visit Applying for a research degree.