Abbotts Ann Church of England Primary School, in Hampshire, has installed a new rain garden system to help prevent flooding
Funded by an award secured by the local Landscape Partnership Scheme, the flood management system has been implemented in the school as part of efforts to protect the local chalk stream headwaters of the Rivers Test and Itchen.
The scheme is supported by partners such as the Wessex Rivers Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and the Hampshire County Council.
A “slowing the flow” initiative
The school developed an initiative to manage surface water runoff on-site by researching sustainable drainage options before settling on rain garden planters supplied by Sudsplanter Ltd.
Abbotts Ann and other surrounding parishes have all experienced flooding in recent years due to capacity constraints in the sewer network and groundwater infiltration, requiring the deployment of tankers to manage wastewater flow. This has increased the risk of flooding, sewage pollution and reduced water quality.
Residents have been particularly concerned about Pillhill Brook, a chalk stream that flows for 10km and connects to the River Anton and the River Test.
The rain gardens installed at the school intercept roof runoff and redirect the flow via downpipes into a system of planters, preventing water from entering drains and sewers during heavy rain.
The systems also prevent some runoff around the school playground and car park.
Within each planter, besides plants, there are layers of filtering soil mix and then water storage, which releases water at a controlled rate, preventing a flood of water from leaving the system in one go and preventing overloading.
Tracy Standish, Watercress & Winterbournes’ education officer at Wessex Rivers Trust, worked with the school on the project and ran educational workshops. She said: “The planters look fantastic and really complement the school environment.
“Because the installation is in a visible part of the school, we were keen for it to feel like a feature and to be functional but engaging. The project ticked lots of boxes for us and the school in terms of engagement, values and environmental education – everyone involved is proud to be doing their bit to support flood mitigation in the local community.”
Better preparation for flooding is needed, say UKGBC
In 2024, the UKGBC released a statement urging the government to do more as climate change increases the threat of flooding. The UKGBC statement came as a response to a report from the DEFRA Flood Resilience Taskforce.
Simon McWhirter, deputy chief executive officer at UKGBC, said: “It’s reassuring to see the government getting to grips with the heightened flood risk looming for so many communities and businesses; not just this autumn, but as an escalating issue in the coming years.
“People are rightly concerned about what the future holds, but the current National Adaptation Plan has left us woefully underprepared for the storms ahead.
“This government has inherited very little by way of plans for protecting existing buildings, or ensuring new developments and planning policy keep us safe. This Taskforce will need to help the Government arrive at a much more strategic and comprehensive plan to address flood hazards, while making sure that the most vulnerable and least able to pay for individual flood defences are protected.
“UKGBC is already convening experts from across the sector to develop a UK Climate Resilience Roadmap for the built environment and with specific recommendations for government action on flooding, overheating, wildfires and other risks. Industry and government will need to act decisively together to prepare for the major climate impacts that are sadly now inevitable.”
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