We're thrilled to share that the Action for Silk Stream project has won in the Surface Water Management category at the CIWEM Flood and Coast Excellence Awards 2026, held in Liverpool last night.
Meristem Design is proud to be part of this collaborative initiative alongside Barnet and Harrow Council, Thames Water, Metis, The Rivers Trust, and Thames21 - working together to deliver real, on-the-ground flood resilience in Barnet, one of London's most urbanised catchments.
Ruchi Sayal, Senior Flood Risk Manager - Highways, London Borough of Barnet said:
This leaves me deeply privileged to shape and drive the programme from concept through to delivery. Seeing the vision translated into restored rivers, new wetlands, stronger partnerships and tangible benefits for local communities has been hugely rewarding.
This recognition is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved in the project and reflect years of collaboration, innovation and commitment to delivering nature-based solutions in one of the London's most urbanised catchment.
The Project
The Barnet Residential SuDS Planters scheme responds to significant flood risk across the Silk Stream catchment, where over 1,000 properties in Harrow and Barnet are estimated to be at risk from intense rainfall events. Part of a £6 million Defra-funded Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, the project pilots community-level rainwater management to reduce pressure on the sewer system, filter road and roof runoff pollutants, and raise awareness of sustainable water management.
Meristem designed and fabricated bespoke timber planters, each connected directly to existing downpipes to capture and slow roof runoff. A tailored planting scheme was developed for each home, selected to suit local light levels and climate conditions for long-term resilience.
Phase 1 installations across Barnet have been warmly received by residents, with one describing her planter as "made beautifully" and noting that passers-by would never know it's serving a purpose.
What's Next
Following the success of Phase 1, Phase 2 has been confirmed, with further planters to be rolled out to more homes across the borough.
This award is a fantastic recognition of what's possible when landscape design, engineering, and community engagement work in step. We're excited to continue this work and to play our part in building more flood resilience across Barnet and other London boroughs.
