SuDS are becoming more and more common in schools across the UK. They help manage surface and roof water run off, contributing to flood risk mitigation and creating safer school environments. But why not turn them into a fun learning opportunity too?
What types of features can you install to make SuDS in Schools interactive and educational?
Having worked in hundreds of schools across the UK, we've designed and installed bespoke SuDS elements tailored to each school's flood risk, space constraints and runoff sources. Rain gardens, SuDS planters, Hybrid SuDS planters and nature gardens are among the most common features we install, each offering its own opportunity for interaction and learning.
But we don't think installation alone is enough, especially in a learning environment. So, we make it our mission to ensure every school SuDS project is interactive, fun and educational.
SuDS in schools interactive and educational with SuDS planters?
We bring SuDS planters to life by running nature workshops where children learn how they work, how to plant them and how to care for them. Rain clouds, cascading downpipes and planted hoppers are just a few add-on features we've implemented across schools, creating visual, hands-on learning experiences. Take a look at the fun elements at schools in East Sussex.
Cascading downpipes
Rain cloud feature
Planted hoppers
Check out our brochure for more SuDS planter add-ons.
How can you make rain gardens in schools interactive and educational?
As ground-level green spaces, rain gardens are a blank canvas for creating engaging outdoor areas. Not only are they a great way for children to get stuck in, learning practical planting skills and maintenance, but they have room for vertical features and habitat accessories.
At Torriano Avenue in Camden, we installed a steel Habi-stack filled with bark, reeds, crushed stones, bamboo and perforated hardwood to attract wildlife from all angles. Paired with bee posts and educational signage, it's become a brilliant learning space for pupils, parents and teachers.
Check out our brochure for other rain garden extras that you can bring to your school.
How do you build nature gardens in schools that are interactive and educational?
SuDS-integrated nature gardens provide more than just flood risk management, they often create calming green retreats for pupils. Designed as an outdoor learning space, nature gardens can be fitted with a range of features to help stimulate a sense of exploration, movement and calm.
We created this nature garden in Maidenhead for St. Luke's primary school complete with an array of engaging elements such as stepping logs, a bug hotel, a balance beam and gabion seating features.
The nature garden provides an alternative space to the school playground, acting as an outdoor classroom for students and teachers. Stepping logs and balance beams offer movement and exploration, the bug hotel boosts the ecological factor while the seating spaces allow for rest, calm and retreat.
Designing SuDS with the creative minds of children in mind can transform a drainage solution into an inclusive, engaging green space.
