A Hampshire primary school is helping tackle local flood risks while giving pupils hands-on environmental lessons after installing a small-scale sustainable drainage system on its grounds.
Abbotts Ann Church of England Primary School, in the village of Abbotts Ann near Andover, has introduced two innovative rain garden planters as part of a “slowing the flow” initiative aimed at reducing surface water runoff and easing pressure on the local drainage network.
The project was funded through a community grant from Watercress & Winterbournes, a landscape partnership scheme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The partnership brings together 15 organisations, including Wessex Rivers Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Hampshire County Council, to protect the fragile chalk stream headwaters of the Rivers Test and Itchen.
The initiative was led by the school’s eco-team which is made up of 14 pupils and a teacher, who researched sustainable drainage options before choosing two modular rain garden units from Sudsplanter Ltd.
The move comes as Abbotts Ann and surrounding villages continue to face repeated flooding linked to sewer capacity issues and groundwater infiltration, with tanker support sometimes needed during periods of heavy rain to prevent overloading and sewage pollution.
Local waterways, including the nearby Pillhill Brook – a chalk stream flowing into the River Anton and eventually the River Test – are particularly vulnerable to water quality issues when drainage systems come under pressure.
The newly installed SuDSPlanters work by intercepting rainwater from the school roof through redirected downpipes, filtering and storing it before releasing it slowly back into the ground. The system reduces the amount of water entering drains during heavy rainfall, helping to lower flood risk.
The installation also includes an interactive ‘cloud tray’ feature, designed to show pupils how rainwater is captured and managed, alongside water-saving leaflets, pledge cards and educational workshops led by Wessex Rivers Trust.
Tracy Standish, education officer at Wessex Rivers Trust, 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.’
Alex Stephenson, director of Sudsplanter, said:’In catchments such as the River Test and River Itchen, where groundwater levels and network capacity present ongoing challenges, small-scale sustainable drainage systems can form part of a wider strategy to manage flood risk and improve water quality.’